Accused ‘not a dead loss’

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 23

Accused ‘not a dead loss’

“I don’t regard you as a dead loss by any means,” Mr Justice Roper has told Kim Tama Scadden, aged 28, unemployed, in the High Court. 1 His Honour sentenced Scadden to six months periodic detention and put him on probation for a year .on a charge of burglary of 'the flat of Peter Raymond White in Armagh Street on April 30. Last week a jury found Scadden guilty on the burglary charge but not guilty .of wilfully setting fire to the 'flat.

Before making submission, Scadden’s counsel (Mr M. J. Glue) handed his Honour a letter written by Scadden. Mr Glue said that the accused had been in custody since the arrest on the night of April 4. Not all his cooffenders had been dealt with. Drink was involved in almost all his offending.

After making a great waste of his life so far Scadden was now determined to. reform. Because of his abilities he was capable of making “a go of things.”

His Honour said that Scadden had been in custody for four months awaiting trial and at least one of the co-offenders, although only aged 19, was sentenced to a short term of periodic detention.

Scadden had plans for his own rehabilitation. He was going to have instruction in carving from Mr Hohepa who was prominent in the Maori community.

• “You rather impressed me when you gave evidence and the letter you wrote is also impressive. I don’t regard you as a dead loss by any means Scadden. I hope it works out as you say because I. am going to give you the opportunity,” his Honour said.