APPEALS AGAINST SENTENCES

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1931, Page 3

APPEALS AGAINST SENTENCES

— < GROUNDS OF INSANITY. TWO APPLICATIONS BEFORE COURT. WELLINGTON, March 30. After hearing evidence in the case of Wiliami Wilkinson, who appealed on tlm grounds of insanity against a sentence of five years’ imprisonment imposed upon him for indecent assault, the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, said the Court of Apnea! had no jurisdiction to (piash tilt*' conviction, and the application would be refused. There was definite evidence however, before' the Court .that the man was insane at the time of the commission of the offence, and the matter was one for the Governor-General in Council who had that power if ’■*- thn ,, "td fit to order a emv * i-i■ •' H woid'i i n a matter for his Excellency to take into consideration (fiat if the Court had been informed of the man’s condition. a pica of guilty would not have been accepted. The Court would make no order on the npnliealion (or the reduction of the sentence. 'fin* Court also dealt with n similar application by Theodore Vincent CaScy who was sentenced in October last at Auckland to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour on each of four charges of receiving stolen goods, the sentences to las cumulative. Prisoner was not rvnresoiifed and the Court reserved its decision.