FINED £l00.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18047, 16 June 1930, Page 8

FINED £loo.

TE RAPA FATALITY. NOT TO DRIVE FOR THREE YEARS. SENTENCE ON DEMLER. “I have to mark my sense of the gravity of the offence in some way,” remarked his Honour Mr Justice Herdman, at the Hamilton Supreme Court to-day, in sentencing August Herman Demler, a middle aged farmer, of Motumaoho, for so negligently driving his car at Te Rapa as to cause the death of Norman Stephen Bradley. “This class of offence is becoming far tod common, and quite recently other people have been killed on this very road,” added his Honour. Usually, he proceeded, persons charged with this class of offence were in no sense criminals. Every week, however, these road tragedies were happening, and it must be impressed on the minds of drivers of motor vehicles that they must exercise extreme care.

Mr A. H. Powell, in speaking on accused’s behalf, said he was a decent, hard working farmer, with a large family. He was not in affluent circumstances.

His Honour said he had no doubt whatever that accused did not keep a proper lookout., and that he drove a dangerous machine like a motor car without a proper foot brake. Accused was fined £IOO and costs, and his present license was cancelled. His Honour also declared that accused must not be granted a driver’s license for three years.