BURNED HUSBAND’S HOUSE

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 23 May 1932, Page 7

BURNED HUSBAND’S HOUSE

MAORI WOMAN’S ADMISSION. PRISON TILL COURT RISES. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 23. When Christina Field, aged 25, a Maori, appeared in the Supreme Court to-day for sentence, she having pleaded guilty to the burning: down of her husband’s house at Hokianga on April 9, her counsel submitted that the rule in common law that . a husband and wife are one applied in her case and therefore no offence had been committed. He said that under the Crimes Act there was no offence of arson if a person charged had full interest in the property unless there was intent to defraud. Counsel said the prisoner had for s many years lived far from civilisation. Her marriage was unhappy and, folj lowing a dispute, her husband thrash- ( ed her. She considered suicide, but * while her husband was away she set fire to the house. They had patched up their differences and were now living together again. The assistant Crown prosecutor admitted a doubt about whether an offence had been committed, but denied the right of the prisoner to alter her plea of guilty. Mr. Justice Smith sentenced accused to imprisonment till the rising of the court.