The Wrong that Men Do
TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN SENTENCING PRISONERS (Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, Last Night. Definite views on the question of whether previous convictions should be taken into account when passing sentence on a prisoner were expressed by Air Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court on behalf of a prisoner with a very bad record.
Mr Noble quoted a recent decision of Lord Chief Justice Hcwart in the Court of Appeal, in which he said: “This court has stated again and again and now repeats that on passing sentence, regard must be had to the intrinsic nature of the offence proved. It is entirely wrong to send a man to a long term of imprisonment or penal servitude merely because he has received a heavy punishment at some other time for some other offence.”
“We are not bound by those decisions,” said Mr Justice Herdman. “I do not agree with the statement either, and I have, no hesitation in saying so.” With reference to the case before him, his Honour added that it was absurd to say he was not to take into consideration the man’s previous character.
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Bibliographic details
Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 129, 5 November 1930, Page 7
Word Count
190The Wrong that Men Do Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 129, 5 November 1930, Page 7
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