INDIAN DOCTOR GUILTY

Evening Star, Issue 20328, 9 November 1929, Page 12

INDIAN DOCTOR GUILTY

INDECENT ASSAULT [Pen United Phess Association.] AUCKLAND, November 8. A verdict of guilty was returned by the jury in the Supreme Court to-night at the conclusion of the trial of tbs Indian medical practitioner, Balder Singh Share, charged with indecent assault on a female. The jury added a recommendation to mercy on the ground that, in its opinion, prisoner was a sexual pervert. The trial had lasted two days. The jury retired at 5 o’clock, and shortly before 9 to-night returned. “We find the prisoner guilty as a menace to society,” said the foreman. ■ Some discussion followed as to what the verdict meant, and at Mr Justice Herdman’s direction the jury again retired, returning in a quarter of an hour with a verdict of guilty, together with the recommendation mentioned. Sentence was deferred until Monday. After luncheon the _ foreman of the jury said they would like to know why Dr Brock way had not been called. His Honour: “I don’t think we can discuss that now, at any rate, Mr Foreman.” Addressing the jury, Mr Singer described the case as "one of the most difficult that had come before the court. But for those dreadful photographs not a police officer would have prosecuted, and not a juryman would convict. How did those photographs affect the charge made by the Crown? Had some influence been brought to bear upon the girl subsequently? Mr Meredith said that Mr Singer, with greatest cleverness, had used the weapon of vilification without the slightest justification. His address had been a virulent attack on an innocent girl. In summing up, His Honour said that in New Zealand the public generally, with good reason, had unbounded confluence in the integrity and honesty of members of the medical profession. Cases of breach of that confidence were very rare. It was necessary that the jury should make up its inind as to the character of the principal witness put forward by the Crown. Did she leave the impression that she was truthful? His Honour drew attention to the improper nature of the remarks admittedly made by accused to the girl. Undoubtedly some of the photographs, if they were shown to the girl, were scandalous and shocking beyond expression. With regard to some that accused admitted showing her, they must ask themselves if any, decent ; human being would show them to any respectable girl. Reference had been made to Dr Brockway, but lie did not see that Dr Brockway had anything to do with the case at all