DRAMATIC INCIDENT
PROTEST BY PRISONER, AUCKLAND, November 2. Ten years’ imprisonment with hard labour was the sentence imposed on George Dawson Barrett by his Honoi Mr Justice Smith in the Supreme Court this morning. Prisoner had last week been found guilty of rape at Faeroa.
There was a dramatic incident when the judge was about to pass sentence “1 am absolutely innocent of the charge. I am not the man who did it,” interjected Barrett from the dock. He spoke in a full, firm voice w liis Honour: 1 don’t believe you for one moment. The jury, rightly I think found you guilty.
In addressing the prisoner the judge referred to the offence as a “terrible one. The girl concerned was only nine years of age. Accused’s previous record showed that in 1923 he had been found guilty of indecent assault and had been sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. He also had other convictions dating back to 1916, although they did not relate to indecency. “You seem to have some sexual taint and the only thing I can do is to send you out of society for a very long time,” said His Honor. At tliia stage Barrett protested that he was innocent. Sentence was then passed.
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Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1930, Page 7
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207DRAMATIC INCIDENT Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1930, Page 7
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