Prisoners Before Supreme Court For Sentence

Chronicle (Levin), 7 February 1948, Page 4

Prisoners Before Supreme Court For Sentence

Coneul-rent 3anteilees of one year 's and -six months' rdtormative detention Were imjxosed on Noel James Eeid, a timberwofker, aged 2*3 years, singto, when he hjigearhd before -xAtr. Justire Ohristi'6 bi the Supreme' Court at Palmerston X orth yesterday morning' ior sentencfe on foilr counts o# 'assault on a female With intent to commit rape, with indeeent assault and epmmon assault. Alaking a plea for the prisoner, Mr. A. AL Ongley said that Eeid was one of a family of seven and he had been brmight up in a good home in' strict Christiaii principles. At 18 years Eeid went into the Army and shortly after-, wards transferi-cd to the Air Poree. When he was 19 years of age it was discovered that he was too voung for service and was diS'charged. When Eeid was 20, said Ah'-. Uiigley, he again volunteered , with the consent of his parents and went overseas. Ile served - for two years and was discharged in September, 1,946, after being grad'ed two as a resuit of a head injury received during the waiv His face stilL remained injured. 'Ihe Def.ence Department realised that Eeid was still suffering and had arranged for him to be examined by a specialist on Friday next. The father of accilsed had said that sliic'e his return from overseaas he had been a changed boy. Whereafe before he seldom went out at night, he now spent a great number of nights out. Previouslv he had not touched drlnk and now he beearne violei^t under the influcnce of alcohol. Eegarding the * two incidents the subject* of the charges, 'Eeid had foUnd himself in circumstanccs of great temptation. . Counsel askecL,the Court to" take into conrideratioh accnsed's "age, war service and war injury. He agrecd to a large extent with what counsel had said in regard to the nature of the temptations faced by accused, commeiited his Honour. He was: sorrv to see a voung inan with a good record of war service belrind him 'in prisoner 's positiou today. It was quite impossible to grant proiilttion, but, said his Honour, 1^ felt disposed to extend as much lenieUcy to Iieid as possible. Sentence as sitated was imposed. Assault oxi Child tfThe only tliing that cati be said in your favour is that you did not commit as gritve an oll'ehce against this eliiid as ihe opportunity alforded, " commented his Hono'ur when imposing -a sentence of niiie months' hard labOur on Charles .HOnrv Freeman, a freezing worker, single, aged 46 years, of Longburn, wlio on Albnday was found guilty by a jurv of committing an indeeent assault on a siy-year-okl girl. Soldier Eemanded Alexander Coulder Eeid, a soldier, aged* 18 years, who last moftth pleaded guilty in the lower court to a eharge of breaking, entering and theft, appear'ed before Air. .Tustiee Ohristie for sentence. After hearing a report from an Army captain that because of the_ hatUre of the -offence Eeid's services" wduld not be retained by the Army, his Itonour remanded Eeid for one week in ordtr to obtain a report from the 3'robatiort OfliCer at Wellington. it was mentioned that. Eeid was on pro hation at the time of the present olferice. lie was released on bail until next Friday.