MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 246, 16 September 1932, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, the case wherein William Pellatt. had been sentenced to one month’s imprisonment for having committed damage to a motor car to the extent of 4s 6d. again came forward. Originally, the case had been referred hack by Mr Justice Blair for rehearing and then further adjourned lor the taking of additional evidence. However, the Magistrate declined to alter his decision and accused came up for sentence this morning. Mr Cooper,, counsel for accused, considered that tho crime for which his client had been convicted had been a minor one and contended that the position could be met with a fine. In the event of the Magistrate declining to follow that course, counsel asketl that the sentence he increased so that an appeal could he lodged in the Supreme Court and the question of penalty considered by the higher Court. ‘ The Magistrate stated that the legal issues advanced at the rehearing had not caused him to consider varying his original finding, adding that he had had to look at the circumstances surrounding the charge, which, he maintained, ho lmd been entitled to take into consideration when passing sentence. Counsel then intimated that it was his intention to appeal against the sentence of one month and leave to appeal was granted, security being fixed at £ls.