FACTORY HAND CONVICTED

Southland Times, Issue 22956, 31 July 1936, Page 3

FACTORY HAND CONVICTED

Charge Of Negligent Driving (United Press Association.) Palmerston North, July 30. In the Supreme Court at Palmerston North to-day a sentence of reformative detention, not exceeding six months, and disqualification from holding a driver’s licence for five years was imposed by Mr Justice Blair on William Richard Paul, aged 21, a factory hand, who was found guilty by the jury, on a charge of negligently driving a motor cycle at Awahuri on April 17, thereby causing the death of Irene Campbell, aged 16. The jury had strongly recommended the suggestion made by counsel, Mr Ongley, that the case should be met by a fine. The Judge stated that he had tried to see whether, by treating such cases with a certain degree of leniency, that would work, but it had not bitten into the consciences of drivers. Newspapers had complained that Judges had been too lenient in the sentences they imposed, but a Judge must not allow any element of harshness or injustice to enter into his sentence or juries would feel that they would not convict. Liquor Not a Factor. The Judge went on to say that liquor was not a contributing factor to the accident. The case had given him a great deal of anxiety. The prisoner had an admirable record and had led an industrious life. The case had lamentable features so far as the accused was concerned. He had no doubt that accused felt a good deal of remorse over the accident. Cases of this description were dealt with as manslaughter charges and it was only after legislation was introduced, alleging it to be negligent driving, thereby causing death, and they got rid of the objectionable term “manslaughter” that juries would convict.