ASSAULT ON A CHILD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3088, 19 May 1917, Page 8

ASSAULT ON A CHILD

SOLDIER SENTENCED TO FOUR TEARS* IMPRISONMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Chrlstchurch, May 18. At the Supreme Court, Charles Valentino Kear, a returned soldier, was charged with indecent assault on a girl wider twelve years of age. The jury returned the'following verdict: "Guilty, with a rocommendation that, as the accused is a returned soldier, wounded in defence of his country, as much mercy as possible should he extended to him as is consistent with the proper protection of the community." Mr. Justice Denniston, after referring to accused's record, which showed a conviction for theft in 1907, said he would give as much attention as possible to the recommer*lation for mercy, but in these cases attention Bad to be given to the interests of the country. Meu who did these things were sometimes not responsible for their actions, in the sense that they had strong sexual impulses which they did not resist. He had to protect the children of the country from such men as these, but he would endeavour to make some allowance for the fact that accused was a returned soldier. With his present propensities, the prisoner was a dangerous man. The case was surrounded with somer characteristics which made it one of. the worst of this class ho had had before him for some time. He felt that he was giving really more weight to the jury's recommendation than he should in sentencing the accused to four years' imprisonment. If it had not been for the circumstances of his military career a much longer sentonce would havo been imposed.

A CHRISTCHURCH CASE. By' TelegTaph—Press' Associatifcn. Christchurch, Mav 18. At the Suprome Court, Daniol Jervois Bray was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for indecent assault on three children.