"ABOMINABLE OFFENCE"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19880, 6 March 1939, Page 4

"ABOMINABLE OFFENCE"

FIVE-YEAR SENTENCE

WAIROA MAORI'S CRIMES

A warning that he would be flogged if found guilty again of a similar offence was given by Mr. Justice Northcroft in the Supreme Court today when sentencing Joe Douglas, aged 31, a Maori, to five years' imprisonment with hard labour on two counts, rape and indecent assault at Wairoa on December 3. Douglas was found guilty on both charges by a Maori jury last week.

Mr. L. T. Burnard, when appearing for the accused to-day, said he was aware that in view of a previous offence of a similar nature any application on the prisoner's behalf must be of a limited nature. Although addicted somewhat to drink, the prisoner had been a good worker, and in the circumstances a moderate sentence might meet the case so as to give Douglas, who was still a comparatively young man, an opportunity to rehabilitate himself.

His Honour remarked that the prisoner had been convicted of a similar offence on a previous occasion, and had served a lengthy sentence. On this occasion he had been convicted by a jury comprising his own people.

"Your offence is an abominable one," His Honour went on, "and as a lengthy term previously apparently had no effect on you, your case seemed so serious that I considered whether you ought to be flogged."

His Honour added that while he had decided against that measure on this occasion, he warned the prisoner that if he came before the court for a similar offence on a later occasion flogging would be his fate.