THE KYEBURN MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17554, 8 November 1928, Page 7

THE KYEBURN MURDER.

HARDIE SENTENCED. DEATH OF A CHINESE. IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Thursday. William John Handle, who was found guilty of the manslaughter at Kyeburn of Joe Shum, was sentenced to Imprisonment with hard labour fop life.

A BRUTAL CRIME. NO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES HARDIE SHOWS NO EMOTION. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.) DUNEDIN, Thursday. In sentencing Hardie, .Mr Justice MacGregor .said that on the evidence the jury might have convicted prisoner of murder. He could find no extenuating circumstances to warrant passing less than a life sentence. It was quite plain that Hardie killed the unfortunate victim in very brutal circumstances. He was a young man of 22 years, who had been in and out of industrial schools from an early age, and seemed to have been incorrigible and dishonest. He had been convicted of forgery, uttering and theft. Mr Hanlon, prisoner's counsel, previously intimated his abandonment of the intention to get the judge to state a case for the Appeal Court with regard to the admissibility of the dying declaration of ihe Chinaman. Mr Adams, Crown Prosecutor, states that flies showed that prisoner seemed abnormal. He would not suggest, insanity but Hardie differed from other people, and the speaker had little doubt that had been the origin of the crime. In concluding the judge remarked that if, as suggested by counsel, prisoner showed signs of reformation, no doubt it woud be open to the Prisons Board to take what steps it considered advisable in the way of releasing him or otherwise. Hardie showed no emotion as he was led away.