MILTON STABBING CASE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20400, 5 May 1928, Page 20

MILTON STABBING CASE.

CHARGE AGAINST HASSETT. TERM OF PROBATION GRANTEE. When William Hassett, who was convicted of asasult in the recent Milton stabbing case, appeared before Mr Justice Sim, in the Supremo Court yesterday morning, he was admitted to probation for three years. Mr C. J. I/. White, who appeared for the prisoner, said that he had been engaged in the taxi business, and had lost heavily. He was now paying periodical sums in settlement of his debts. He had been prohibited, the order having been taken out voluntarily by himself while in Milton. He had a brother who was living in the North Island, and it was his intention, if the court saw fit to grant probation, to go and live with the brother. For the Crown, Mr P. B. Adams said that if the court saw fit to grant probation the accused should be required to make restitution to the injured man, in view of the financial loss that he had suffered. Hia Honor: Has he suffered any pecuniary loss? _ Mr Adams: He was obliged to leave his work, and was in the hospital for 13 days. . , . His Honor said that the jury had acquitted the prisoner of any intent to murder or do bodily harm to the complainant, but the verdict did not necessarily negative an intention on his part to use the knife. The use of the knife was the act of a cowardly ruffian, notwithstanding the fact that the character of the accused did not seem so bad as his action that night would suggest. Doubtless he was suffering from drink and jealousy. In view .f the circumstances the court was justified in .extending to the accused the benefit of the Probation Act Hassett was admitted to probation for three years, and was ordered to abstain from drinking alcoholic liquor, and torenew his prohibition order from time to time He was also ordered to pay it each year towards the cost of the prosecution, and reside elsewhere than in Otago if the probation officer- so desired. Lastly, he was ordered to pay Charles Aithur Lloyd full compensation for the pecuniary loss he had suffered as a result ° f said his Honor, addressing the prisoner, “ that if you do not comply S with the terms of your probation order you may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for three years, with hard labour.” '