SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1933, Page 2

SUPREME COURT

QUARTERLY SESSION AT NAPIER

WOMAN’S GRAVE OFFENCE

(Per-Press Assentation — Copyright. )

NAPIER, February 12:

Three criminal eases, two lor trial, and one for sentence, as well as a fairly long list- of civil actions were set down for hearing when the quarterly session of the Supreme Court opened at Napier Ithis .morning, Air Justice Blair presiding. True bi'.lk were) returned in film case in which Donald A-rnot-t liad Margaret Bell were jointly charged with attempted rape, and also the case in which Desmond Kenny was charged with attempted rape at Alakotuku on October Ist., 1926.

In regard to the first case, His Honour said that it would, no doubt, seem unusual that it-lie-re should be a charge of attempted rape against a woman. It was alleged, however, that the woman was there to assist in the commission of ,a crime.

INDECENT ASSAULT CASES.

SENTENCE OF SEVEN YEARS’.

AUCKLAND, February 13.

Sentences imposed by Air JusticeSmith on prisoners in tho Supreme Court included a- term of seven years’ reformative detention on a man who had been found guilty cm five counts of indecent assault on small boys. The prisoner was Norman Bergman, a blacksmith, aged 30. His Honour said there was no question that on the first- three counts the accused was guilty of unusual and unnatural offences. His history showed that life had not been very kind to him. It appeared that- the prisoner’s mind had beeil affected, although he was not certifiable. “It is all a question of how the community is to be protected,” said His Honour, “and I have decided that a long term is necessary.”

LESLIE HARVEY NOT GUILTY

DUNEDIN, February 13,

The hearing of two charges of indecent assault on males against Leslie Vane Harvey was held in the Supreme Court to-day, before Air Justice Kennedy. Th© jury returned a verdict of not guilty on both counts.

FIVE YEARS FOR ASSAULT.

DUNEDIN, February 13

Thomas Poison, aged 48, found guilty in the Supreme Court of causing actual bodily harm to a young woman, was sentenced to. five years’ imprisonment. Accused entered the woman’s bedroom and struck her with a hammer, causing a fractured skull. The jury at the trial added a rider that accused was suffering from the effects of drugs when the crime was committed.

Later, in the Lower Court, Poison, who was removed to the hospital after th© -attack on the woman, with his throat cut, was convicted and discharged on a charge of attempted suicide.