AUCKLAND STABBING

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1929, Page 5

AUCKLAND STABBING

CAFFREY GETS 12 YEARS’

QUESTION OF ACCOMPLICE

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, November 8. Twelve years’ imprisonment with hard labour’ was imposed on George Caffrey, aged 34, a quarter caste negro, on a charge of manslaughter of Thomas Leavey.

When Justice Smith pronounced sentence in the Supreme Court, Caffrey was apparently unmoved, but his wife was removed sobbing bitterly. His Honor said: “The jury has found you guilty of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy. The reasonable influence from that was that someone else was there. Who that person was, is not for me or any judicial person to say at the present time, but it is crystal clear that Leavey ,would not have been foully done to death in his own house but for you. It another man was there and had anything to do with the stabbing, it was clear that you took him there, following your bent to assault actually with violence, if not to kill. It can scarcely be said that Leavey gave you any provocation at all. I think both the Crown Prosecutor and myself went to the full length we ought to have gone in suggesting to the jury a verdict of manslaughter. I will, however, take the jury’s view that you did not actually do the stabbing. But I must take into account that but for you and your violent attitude, no crime would have been committed. In the circumstances and in view of your previous record, I can do no other, in view of the jury’s recommendation to mercy, than impose substantial term of imprisonment. The sentence of the Court is that you be sentenced to hard labour for the period of twelve years.”