SIX YEARS' GAOL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 70, 19 September 1930, Page 11

SIX YEARS' GAOL

MAN'S CRAVE OFFENCES

COURT'S ONLY COURSE

Six years' imprisonment with hard labour on each of two charges of incest at Wangnnui, .the terms, to^be served concurrently, was the punishment imposed upon/William, Frederick Couchman, aged 41, gardener arid-labourer, by the Chief' Justice' (Sir Michael I Myers) in the Supremo Court to-day. i.Qn a charge of attempted suicide Couchman was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, the term to bo served concurrently with the major sentence.

Mr. D. \V. Virtue, who appeared for the prisoner, said that both he and his principals realised that it was very difficult to say anything in mitigation of the offences to which Gouchman had pleaded guilty. Couchman was a widower, and the submission was that the commission of the offences was contri-bute-d to in some measure by the death of his wife and the subsequent retired life he chose to lead. He was a, man of below average mentality. Counsel handed in a doctor's certificate which he asked should be kept on Couchrnan's file so that it would-be available when the case earno before the Prisons Board for review.

The Chief Justice: '' There is '. only one institution so far as I know'that this Court can send the prisoner. That is prison." : Mr. Virtue said that the charge of attempted suicide was really the outcome of the major charges. Couchman said he did not remember anything of attempting to eoni'mit suicide./ . Addressing the prisoner, his Honour [said, that in his own interests, in the I interest of the daughter whose life he 'had ruined, and in the interests of the State it was necessary that there should be imposed upon him a substantial term, of imprisonment. That i was the only course the Court could adopt, ..having regard to the very serious nature.of the offences. The matter to which his coun-, sel had referred" were matters which the Court could not consider, but they might be considered by the authorities in the future. His Honour referred particularly to the question of treatment which it might:be 'desirable.prisoner should undergo 'in yiew of any physical and mental defects from which he was suffering. His Honour then passed sentence.