Magistrate Condemns Behaviour Of Youths On Sex Charges

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31118, 22 July 1966, Page 7

Magistrate Condemns Behaviour Of Youths On Sex Charges

“This animal-like behaviour is a public disgrace,” Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M., said in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to 11 Maori youths who pleaded guilty to charges of having unlawful sexual intercourse with two sisters, aged 15 and 14.

Each accused was fined £3O who admitted more than one offence were ordered to pay costs on the other charges. Mr R. G. Blunt appeared for the 11 accused.

The Magistrate made an order suppressing the name of the hostel where the accused reside but he refused to make an order suppressing the names of the accused. Sergeant V. F. Townshend asked for suppression of the girls’ names as they were to appear in the Children’s Court today. He said but for that fact he would not have asked for suppression. “If the girls had not been appearing before the Children’s Court I would not have considered suppressing their names for one moment,” the Magistrate said. "I regret the situation has arisen where I am compelled to suppress their names.”

The following youths pleaded guilty to two charges of having unlawful sexual intercourse: Joseph Tio Haenga, aged 18, a painter; Pari Winifred Hunt, aged 18, a painter; John James Stewart OHiver, aged 17, a panel

beater: Kenneth Tumataroa, aged 18, a painter; Charles Haerehuka Wihapi, aged 18, a panel beater. The following pleaded guilty to one charge of unlawful sexual intercourse: James Murray Hohepa, aged 18, a painter; Robert Pomare, aged 18, a panel beater; Hoturoa Benjamin Richmond, aged 19, a panel beater, who also admitted a charge of attempted unlawful sexual intercourse; Barry Wikohika, aged 19, a carpenter; and Neri Teohoki Wall, aged 18, a panel beater. Harry Matoe, aged 18, a painter, pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault on a female.

Two charges of having unlawful sexual intercourse and one of attempted unlawful sexual intercourse against Rau Aroha Ngarangione, aged 20, a boilermaker, were adjourned to August 4. Mr M. J. Glue appeared for the accused.

Similar charges against two youths, aged 17, whose names were suppressed, were adjourned to today to obtain a report from the Child Welfare Department to see if they were suitable to be dealt with in the Children’s Court.

Sergeant Townshend said on April 23 two sisters were reported missing from their home near Christchurch. They were found by the police on April 26 and they complained that on April 24 and 25 they had been at a hostel and a number of youths had had sexual intercourse with them and had indecently assaulted them.

One girl said about 15 youths took turns at having intercourse with them. The two girls were met in the city on the night of April 24 by some of the youths and the girls said they had nowhere to stay. They were taken to an old house at the rear of the hostel. Sergeant Townshend said. This was a disgraceful affair but it was not a case of an innocent young girl being seduced by older more experienced persons, said Mr Blunt. No persuasion was used by the accused.

Anyone who had anything to do with a boarding-school could understand how this could happen. All the boys were under fairly strict supervision and some restrictions. He submitted that because of these restrictions it was not appropriate that the accused should be placed on probation or sent to a detention centre. Eacb of the accused was doing a useful job in the community.

“Although this is a somewhat massive offence, fines would be appropriate because of the character of the girls,” Mr Blunt said. He asked for suppression of the name of the hostel and the names of all the accused, some of whom had fathers in responsible positions. It was regarded as a very bad thing for a Maori boy to bring disgrace on his home and district.

In reply to a question by

the Magistrate Mr Blunt said that there were 50 boys at the hostel. “From the facts outlined to me, to describe this situation as disgraceful is a gross understatement,” the Magistrate said. “I have had many years’ experience with members of the Maori race which has produced some of the finest citizens in New Zealand. The activities of the defendants show that young Maoris are not following the example of their elders.”

The accused had given vent to their animal instincts by forming a queue and one after the other having intercourse with the two under-age gills, the Magistrate said. None of them had the moral instinct not to do this. “And now I am asked to give the accused some concessions by making an order that their names be not published,” said the Magistrate. “It is very much in the public interest that this sort of degrading conduct which goes on in this city be stopped. These youths have got no selfdiscipline.

“This is a case where the

public is entitled to know what has been going on and where the Courts should allow full publicity to this disgusting and disgraceful episode. There will be no order for suppression of names." Not much could be said for either the accused or the girls involved. Parliament had prescribed severe penalties for this type of offence. “It seems strange to me that this activity could go on for a period of time without someone in authority knowing what was going on and stopping it,” said the Magistrate.

The Court had a duty to the public to impose a deterrent fine even though the accused got small wages, and the fine would cause some hardship. In some instances the accused had been drinking even though they were under the age of 2L They had money to spend on liquor, the Magistrate said. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Maurice Frederick James Smither, aged 17, a workman, when he failed to appear to answer a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.