CAR CONVERSION

Evening Star, Issue 23726, 6 November 1940, Page 6

CAR CONVERSION

YOUNG MAN'S BAD RECORD TWELVE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON November 6. When counsel took sharp exception to a statement by Detective-sergeant W. M'Lennan, who was prosecuting, that the offence of car conversion had been committed eight days after the defendant had been released from the Borstal, where be had been serving a sentence for a similar type of offence in which a girl had been killed, the magistrate (Mr Stout) interposed by saying he did not think counsel should worry; the defendant had a bad enough record as it was. Counsel was maintaining that on the occasion the girl was killed the defendant was charged, and the case was dismissed, and that the case that took him to the Borstaj occurred later. Counsel pleaded that the defendant had no criminal tendencies apart from the conversion of cars, and it might help, ho suggested, if the court could make some recommendation. Pie should be allowed to serve his country.,

The Magistrate said the public bad to be protected Ho bad noticed that only last week-end four or five cars bad been taken “On the first occasion you were before the court you were admonished and discharged,” he said, addressing the defendant, James Alexander Kennedy (21), a farm band. “ Later on again you were given throe years’ probation,” and that would not stop you. Then you got two years in the Borstal, and that did not stop you. On this occasion you are going to got 12 months’ hard labour.”