BOGUS DOCTOR

Evening Star, Issue 25169, 8 May 1944, Page 2

BOGUS DOCTOR

STUDENT'S IMPERSONATION DANGER TC COMMUNITY (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 8.. " The conduct undertaken by you is so grave that it requires for the protection of the community that you be detained for a, considerable period," said Mr Justice Northcroft to Murray Beresford Roberts (25), a student, when sentencing him in the Supreme Court this morning to detention for reformative purposes for two years and six months. Roberts, who was involved in impersonation of a doctor, had pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery, and three charges of indecent assault on females. Mr K. G. Archer, "who • appeared for prisoner, said that the impersonation by the prisoner of a doctor was not the first episode in Roberts's life. It was one or many occasions when he had tried to assume positions of importance. Uhey showed a long history of instability that must raise some doubt as to the prisoner's mental state. Mr Archer quoted from various dontors' reports. Dr Lamb (Auckland) stated that as a result of his own concern at Roberts's abnormal behaviour, he thought it his duty to recommend the authorities not to permit' prisoner to continued his-medical studies at the Otago. University after three years. Counsel added that Dr Lamb considered that Roberts suffered from a complaint -which,' though not of sufficient _ severity to justify his committal to a ' mental hospital, did impair his judgment, and render him liable to obsessions .

Roberts, went on counsel, -was daelated temporarily unfit by the Armv ill November, 1942, and was sent homa on sick leave, but in December of thu same yeaT he was in trouble for masquerading as an officer at Franktoa Junction. The Army records showed that within six months Roberts's case was considered by ho fewer than six Armv doctors, all of whom found soma degree of abnormality. Prisoner wished counsel to assure, the court that tha impersonation of the doctor was no* premeditated. His Honour said that prisoner seemed to be a person given to an I'mpulsivo disposition to behave in a certain wav with the knowledge that what he did was wrong, but without sufficient resolution to avoid doing it. When all was said and done that was very much what the ordinary criminal was like. It was a dangerous thing for a community When a young man who had attained only two of the five years' qualifications required for a doctor should presume to conduct tnedical practice. " You used instruments on women far developed in pregnancy, which may very well have had the gravest possible consequences, and you were too ignorant and inexperienced to remedy any mischief you might fcave started," added His Honour, addressing Roberts.