Man jailed for cruelty

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 16

Man jailed for cruelty

PA Hamilton A man who admitted biting and burning a child, aged 18 months, appeared to show no remorse, Judge Green has said in the District Court at Hamilton. Campbell Oranganui Nohe, aged 24, a solo parent

of Hamilton, who had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of cruelty to the child, was sentenced to 18 months jail. The boy is the son of Nohe’s de facto wife. Nohe has custody of his own son. “Watching you in the dock and by reading the proba-

tion report, it appears you have no remorse,” said the Judge. Mr Maurice Knuckey, for Nohe, blamed Nohe’s abuse of alcohol and drugs. “He says he loved the child like his own,” Mr Knuckey said. The child was in “good hands” and suffered no apparent lasting result. Mr Knuckey said the injuries were not severe and there was no suggestion that Nohe was a party to older injuries apparent on the child. There had been “blatant publicity” in the local newspaper and he said, “I implore the Court not to impose a deterrent sentence because of this.” Judge Green said he did not sentence on the basis of publicity. Nohe’s conduct towards the child was “horrific.”