ISLAND TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

ISLAND TRAGEDY

YOUNG GIRL KILLED CRIME SHOCKS RESIDENTS FATHER SENTENCED TO DEATH In the third murder trial to take place ill 100 years in Guernsey, Channel Islands, a father was sentenced to death recently for killing his 12-year-old daughter. The man,' who was sent to the condemned cell, Peter Thomas Henr.v Robin, aged 43, of St. Peter's Port, Guernsey, was stated to have struck the child, Edith Maud Robin, several blows on the head with a hammer or other instrument. The crime shocked residents of the island, and people queued up for hours to 'gain admission to the Court. Among the exhibits was a child's doll. Playing With Doll The Attorney-General, Mr. A. J. Shenvill, prosecuting, stated that the child was playing with this doll in a yard, Robin went into the yard to break up wood. He had a chopper, and the child was seen to pick this up and heard to say that she was going to chop some wood, but Robin said he would do it himself. Robin and tho girl were later seen sitting on a box. No one actually saw the'erime, but, continued the AttorneyGeneral, three things were clear: — llobin and the child were alone in tho yard. The man had been using tho weapon with which, apparently, the injuries were received by the child, and Robin afterwards used such words to his mother as, "I've done it, go and see," and "Didn't I tell you I killed her?" When he said this Robin appeared to have a far-away expression. The Attorney-General added there was evidence of five blows to the head, and submitted that considerable force must have been used. "Known to be SeM-willed"

The child was known to be self-willed, stubborn, and insubordinate, but generally she and her father got on well. There were no bloodstains on Robin's 'clothes, nor on the hammer-chopper, and he denied having hit his daughter. Mrs. A. L. Bailey, mother of Robin, gave evidence that the child had lived with her since Christmas. She was mclined to be stubborn and restless. "1 could not manage her. She was very wicked," the grandmother declared. Dr. Montague told the Court that Robin was below normal intelligence, and a rather weedy individual, but lie was definitely of opinion that Robin was sane. Dr. William MacGlashan, for the defence, said Robin was feeblerininded, and had the mentality of a child of from 10 to 12 years. Robin was found guilty, and, as stated, sentenced to death.