CRIME PUNISHED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24104, 24 October 1941, Page 9

CRIME PUNISHED

VARIETY OF OFFENCES MAN'S BRUTAL ASSAULT DECLARED HABITUAL CRIMINAL Sentence was passed on prisoners by Mr. Justice Fair and .Mr. Justice Callan yesterday. The Crown was represented hv the Crown prosecutor, .Mr. V. I?. Meredith, and Mr. X. 1. Smith. "The assault was a brutal and cowardly one on a woman who was alone in the house," said .Mr. Justice Fair in sentencing George Ngaritnu, a half-caste Maori, for theft and assault so ns to cause actual bodily harm. His Honor said prisoner had bad 14 convictions in the last 10 years, and this offence had been committed within three weeks of his release from prison. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal. Probation Refused On four charges of forgery and two of uttering, Phillip Donald Martinovieh, labourer, aged 29, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment by Mr. Justice Fair. After referring to previous convictions of James Archibald Henry Hardman, commercial agent, aged .'io (Mr. Noble), Mr. Justice Fair said it was quite impossible to grant him probation for the false pretence of which he had been found guilty. He was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour. Sentence of 18 months' hard labour was imposed by Mr. Justice Fair on William Marne Clark, labourer, aged 27 (Mr. Noble), on a charge of breaking and entering and theft, two charges of forgery and two of uttering. Other Sentences Having pleaded guilty to joint charges of breaking and entering and theft Raymond Decarv, labourer, aged 20, and 'William Henry Soames, seaman and labourer, aged 21, came before Mr. Justice Callan. He said each prisoner had previously been in similar trouble and imposed a sentence of 18 months' hard labour. On a similar charge Trevor Eric Collier, labourer, aged 17, was sentenced to two years' detention in a Borstal institution. "1 am not going to be a party to sending thieves into the Army," said Mr. Justice Callan when sentencing Harney Allan, soldier, aged 19, and Peter Snowden. labourer, aged 20, on joint charges of breaking and entering and theft. Sentence of 12 months' hard labour was imposed in each case. Charges of breaking and entering and theft of 0501b. of meat having been admitted by Hui Tawha. miner and labourer, aged 26 (Mr. Noble), he was sentenced to IS months' hard labour. On three charges of incest George Pennv, assistant-engineer, aged 39 (Mr. Noble), was sentenced to four years' hard labour.