Youth of 16 jailed for life
PA New Plymouth A youth, aged 16, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. Grant Edward Canterbury, of Hawera, had pleaded guilty to the murder of Veronica Virginia Byrt, aged 65, at Hawera on September 11 last year. The sitting of the High Court at New Plymouth yesterday was delayed for 2% hours when the accused changed his plea from not guilty. Defence counsel, Mr John MacDonald, told the Court that because of the accused’s age, precautions were taken to ensure the plea was a proper one. During the morning Canterbury was counselled by both
another local lawyer and a member of the Hawera Maori community. Mr Justice Gallen delivered the mandatory sentence. Speaking after the Court sitting, Mr MacDonald said it was unusual for someone to plead guilty to murder and that this also was a reason why other advice was made available to the accused. Mrs Byrt was found dead in her bedroom with stab wounds to her throat and chest. Canterbury was arrested on October 5, after information was received about a missing tape-recorder and a blue bag, seen outside Mrs Byrt’s house.
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Press, 29 May 1985, Page 24
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193Youth of 16 jailed for life Press, 29 May 1985, Page 24
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