BLACKMAIL CASE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 102, 27 October 1933, Page 8

BLACKMAIL CASE

SUPREME COURT SENTENCE

Claudo McEwen and Paku Kingi, who had been found guilty of using threats at Eastbourne with intent to extort money, were today brought before his Honour the .Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) for sentence. On behalf of McEwen, • Mr. J: D. Willis said the report of the police was that prisoner was apparently a man of low mentality and defective understanding, as well as of limited education. It might well be that McEwen was unable to appreciate^ adequately the seriousness of the offence. Counsel for Paku Kingi, Mr. A. Macandrew, said that prisoner had been for some time engaged on relief works at Eastbourne. About three years ago he was an inmate of the Pukeora Sanatorium with tubercular trouble. He had had the responsibility of bringing up several young children. Prisoner was a member of the Native race, and was quite illiterate. Counsel said he felt certain that Kirigi did not fully realise the gravity of the- crime of which he had been found guilty. Although the offence was a serious one, Mr. Macandrew said-he conscientiously believed that the ends of justice would be met by the granting of probation in this case. Addressing the prisoners, his Honour said the offence of which they had been found guilty was an offence of an ugly character. The offence was certainly not one of the worst offences p£ its kind, although any offence of the kind was bad enough. McEwen was a European and ought to have known better. According to the report of the Probation Officer, Kingi had borne a very good character in the past. His Honour said he proposed, therefore, to make a distinction between the two prisoners. Sentence of nine months' imprisonment, with hard labour, was imposed on McEwen, and Kingi was ordered to come up for sentence within twelve months if called upon.