Worst Case Ever Before Him, Judge Tells Prisoner

Northern Advocate, 14 December 1939, Page 8

Worst Case Ever Before Him, Judge Tells Prisoner

AUCKLAND,' This Day. “This is the worst case of the sort to come before me during the period of 15 years I have been a judge," said Mr Justice Istler in the Supreme Court this morning.

He was addressing Herbert Richard Colquitt, who had admitted two charges of indecent asault and one of incest.

Mr K. Aekins (for Colquitt) said it was about as bad a case as one could imagine.

It was a case of a man assaulting his own daughters. No permanent harm had been done to the girls. Mr Aekins said it might be there was a medical explanation for the acts, but he was not in a position to have Colquitt medically examined. He had been the driver in a bus accident two years ago, when three passengers had been badly injured, and he had also been very seriously gassed in the war.

“Richly Deserves Flogging”

He realised the folly of what he had now done, and was extremely sorry. . “One charge relates to your daughter, aged 13, another to your daughter, aged 11. and another to your daughter. aged 10,” said His Honour. “Their safety demands that you be kept away from them until they are able to fend for themselves. “You richly deserve a flogging, but I shall not order you to bo flogged. “You will be sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.”