AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 200, 19 May 1920, Page 7

AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT

; GRAND JURY SUGGESTS LASH FOE SEXUAL OFFENDERS. By Telegraph—Preßs Association. Auckland, May 18. The grand jury concluded its duties at the '.Supreme Court to-day, returning trite bills in all save one of the thirtyfour cases put before it. The exoeptioii was the charge of murder against Alfred ,Thomas Percy Victor Dare, in connection with a motor fajßffty at Penrose on January 2G. A true bill was returned on the alternative charge of manslaughter. , Tho grand jury suggested that- in view of the large number of offences of a sexual nature' against young -children, His Honour shonld take into consideration the advisability of sentencing offenders to the lash. GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER. A young woman, Hilda Holden, who was tried some time ago on a charge of manslaughter at Whangarei following the death of her newly-born infant, appeared before Mr. Justice Chapman this nfteincon for sentence. The finding of the jury which tried the girl was the subject of recent Appeal Court proceedings to determine the\effect of the verdict The jury stated that the child's death was caused by the mother when sh? was not in a mental condition to realise the effect of, her act. The Court . of Appeal decided that this was a verdict of manslaughter because there was no finding that accused did not know the nature and quality of her act. His Honour, after questioning accused's brother, told the girl that lie .was convinced that her act was not deliberate, but. was due to the state of 'distress in which she was at the time. He ordered her to corac up for sentence when called upon, provided that she went to livo' with her brother. . ,