CHILDREN CHARGED WITH MURDER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17061, 14 August 1917, Page 5

CHILDREN CHARGED WITH MURDER.

THE LEGAL POSITION.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 13. In his charge to the Grand Jury, the Chief Justice referred to the charge of murder against two boys, Ernest Claude Gibbons an^ Richard. Heihaiia, in connection with the death of a little girl, Irene Ellen Quinn, aged six, who was drowned on June 19th at Kirikiri, itear Thames, it being alleged that one or two of the boys forced her into the stream. His Honour said the Jaw provided that when ah offender was under seven h© was incapable of committing a crime. In the case before the jury, one of the children was seven years and four days old when the girl was found in the river, so that had her death occurred five days earlier, he could not have been charged with the crime. The law also provided that in cases where an offender was between seven and 14, the onus was on the Crown to show that the offender knew his act was wrong. This aspect of the case would apply to the Maori boy. who was not yet nine. Personally, h© was not aware that there was anything to lead the jury to the conclusion that the Maori boy was conscious of wrong. The Grand Jury reduced the charge to manslaughter.