YEAR’S DETENTION FOR MAORI WIDOW: FORGERY CHARGES
Sentencing a 28-year-old Maori widow. Riwi Rapana, to 12 months’ reformative detention, Mr. Justice Cornish, in the Supreme Court in Gisborne yesterdav said there was deliberation and some cunning in the offence. Rapana had been found guilty of two charges of uttering and two of forgery, committed in Gisborne on Julv 8 and 12. 1948.
Mr. L. T. Burnard, who appeared for the prisoner, reminded His Honour that at the time of the offence Rapana must have been under considerable stress owing to her husband’s illness and subsequent death.
In passing sentence, His Honour said that there should have been no need for the prisoner to have stolen the money as doubtless she would have been given help by relatives and friends if she had asked for it. ‘‘l will take into account your stress at the time of the offence. But for that I, would impose a heavier sentence.”' said His Honour. ‘‘Forgery is a serious crime and if you are not careful you are going to become known among the public as a thief and your people wilj not trust you and you will not have the repute of being a good Maori. The sentence will, I hope, have the effect of pulling you up.”
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22952, 21 May 1949, Page 6
Word Count
214YEAR’S DETENTION FOR MAORI WIDOW: FORGERY CHARGES Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22952, 21 May 1949, Page 6
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