APPEAL UPHELD

Evening Star, Issue 23376, 20 September 1939, Page 10

APPEAL UPHELD

FINE SUBSTITUTED FOR IMPRISONMENT [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 20. An appeal against a sentence of imprisonment with hard labour was upUeld by Mr Justice Nortbcroft in the Supreme Court to-day when he varied a sentence of six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour to a fine of £lO. Ou Juue 20, a man named Dickie, an aircraftsman at Wigram, pleaded guilty to the theft of a uniform valued at £lO 2s 6d, and Mr Levvey, S.M., sentenced him to six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour. After Dickie bad served eight days of his sentence he appealed to the Supreme Court for variation of the sentence. In support of the appeal it was stated that Dickie believed the sentence imposed on him was excessive. Instances where other employees at Wigram were also charged with theft and were fined in the Magistrate’s Court were quoted by counsel, who contended there was a marked inconsistency iu sentences. If the other penalties were proper then that imposed on his client was grossly excessive. , The application by the Crown for costs was refused.