NEW LYNN MURDER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 240, 11 July 1928, Page 11

NEW LYNN MURDER

WHAT COMMUTATION OF, DEATH SENTENCE MEANS PRIME MINISTER'S ASSURANCE Dominion Special Service. Auckland, July 10. In response to representations made by the family of the victim of the New Lynn murder, the Prime Minister has written explaining what commutation of the death sentence means. Mr. Coates says that the warrant under the hand of His Excellency the Gov-ernor-General commuting the sentence of death prescribes as follows: —“That the said Alan George Norgrove shall be kept in imprisonment for hard labour for the term of his natural life.” “I might mention,” continues Mr. Coates, “that there is in law no distinction. between a sentence for life and a sentence for the term of a natural life. In each case the sentence is a sentence for life, and in neither case can remission of the sentence or release from prison be granted without the prior consent of the Governor-General-in-Council. Since my return to Wellington I have conferred with the Minister in charge of prisons, and I am glad to be able to assure you that every precaution will be taken to guarantee Norgrove's safe custody while in prison. As the whole of the facts and circumstances relating to the case, including your own representations, are on record for future reference, you and the relatives of the unfortunate woman who was murdered can rest assured that the interests of justice and the safety of society will \ be the first consideration in the event of the case being reviewed in years to come.”