THAMES TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1917, Page 3

THAMES TRAGEDY

REDUCED TO MANSLAUGHTER

AUCKLAND, August 13. In las charge to the Grand Jury, tho Chief Justice referred to the charge of murder against two boys, vEjr'nete.’t Claude Gibbons and Richard Reihana in connection with the death of the little girl Irene Ellen Quinn, aged six who was drowned on June 19 th. at Kirikiri, near Thames, it being allegea that one or two of tho boys forcel her into the stream. His Honor said the law provided that where an offender was under seven he was incapable of committing a crime. In'the case before the jury one of the children was seven years and four days old when the girl was found in the river, so that had death occurred five days earlier he could not have been charged with the crime. The law also provided that in cases where an offender was between seven and fourteen, tho onus was on vne Crown to show that tlio offender knew his act was wrong. This aspect of the ease would apply to tho Maori hoy, who was not yet nino. Personally he was not aware that there was anything to lead the jury to the conclusion that tho Maori boy was conscious of wrong. The Grand Jury reduced the charges to manslaughter.