SEX OFFENCE
CONVICTED MAN EXECUTED. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.0 p.m.) Melbourne, Sept. 26. David Bennett was hanged to-day. He spoke on the gallows for nine minutes, the longest of any condemned man in the annals of Victorian gaols. He traversed his criminal record, and declared that false evidence had been given against him in sex cases. He complained of unfair trials and the withholding of important evidence, and made allegations of brutality against the police. Death was instant•aneous. Bennett was convicted of a capital offence against a four-year-old girl at Carlton. The last execution for a similar crime took place 41 years ago. Bennett, however, was previously convicted in Western Australia of a sex offence. He received a whipping and a life sentence, but obtained his release after a portion of his sentence was served. He was later convicted of robbery under arms in company with Angus Murray and received fifteen years’ imprisonment. Murray was executed in 1924 for shooting and killing a bank manager. This was the last execution in Melbourne.
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Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 5
Word Count
174SEX OFFENCE Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 5
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