Sentencing sad—judge

Press, 4 May 1984, Page 4

Sentencing sad—judge

PA Auckland Some of the people who had made vociferous calls for tougher rape penalties should have the opportunity of sitting through a trial and making the decision on sentencing, Mr Justice Hillyer said in the High Court at Auckland yesterday.

His Honour was sentencing four young men to prison terms of four years each for the rape of a woman, aged 17, in Auckland last August. Ricky Ronald Grace, aged 18, a labourer, Shane Anthony Snowden, aged 19, a labourer, Ivan Vince Snowden, aged 18, a con-

tract cutter, and Malcolm Robert Munns, aged 18, unemployed, all of Pakuranga, had been found guilty of rape after a trial by jury. His Honour said it was immensely sad when the court had to deal with four young men who were intelligent and healthy, on an offence which must result in their going to prison. There was much to be said for each of the four, but together they had attacked and raped a girl. “Judges must reflect the community’s attitude to offences of this nature,” His Honour said. “Although I must confess

on occasions some of the more vociferous and strident calls for savage sentences in cases of this kind make me wish those people making the comments had to sit through the trial, understood what happened, read the probation officers’ reports and themselves make the decision as to how long each young man has to be kept out of the community and the effect it will have on him.” His Honour said some guidance in rape sentences had recently been received from the Court of Appeal, but in each case the individual judge must still use his knowledge and experience.