YOUTH WHO WAS VAIN AND SELFISH

Chronicle (Levin), 30 July 1946, Page 5

YOUTH WHO WAS VAIN AND SELFISH

-4» Press Association

By Telegraph—

NELSON, July 29. Sentenee of four years reformative detention was imposed on Patrick Wil•fred Hardy, 18 years of age, who was found guilty of manslaughter by a juiy last Week. Hardy had been eharged with the murder of Miss Eahgi Tai Otimi ilt Queen's Gardens on June 20. Senteneing Hardy, the H011. Mr. Jus(ice Fair said: ' ' You have been found guilty of causing the death of a young Maori girl with whom you were associated for some time on friendly terms. The jury has properly, in the circumstances, given you the benefit of the doubt as to whether you intended to cause her death, ahd made a recommendation to mei-cy on account of your youth, but takifig the most lenient view of your eondUct, you committed this crime in a fit of anger or resentment tli at shows an inhUmanity and lack of Self control and indicating the gravest defects in your charaeter and eonduct. Particulai-s put before the Court of your npbringitig and personal conduct, show that those grave defects are not due to your education or liome life, for thdse have been sueli as to give every opportunity of encouragement to be a good citizen. It appears, on the contrary, that your faults and crime were caused by jmhr sfellishness, vanity and ingratitude. The Judge added that four yeairfc reformative detention was the least the Court could iitlpose.