SIX YEARS' GAOL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 543, 29 May 1933, Page 5

SIX YEARS' GAOL

(Press Assn. — I

nlurse sen+enged JUDGE IN AGREEMENT WITH THIRD JURY'S VERDICT HARD LABOHR IMPOSED

5y Telegraph — Copyright).

• Auckland, Saturday. Found guilty yesterday after three trials, Nurse Elspeth Kerr (48), charged on tliree counts with administering poison to her foster-child Betty, was sentenced by Mr. Justice Herdman this morning to six years' hard labour. The judge said all~the poisoning cases were of first rate gravity. "Had the medical gentlemen who in the early stages attended the child not insisted that she should go int'o hospital," said His Honour, "the ensuing consequences might have been more serious for her and more serious for you. When she was beyond your reach she speedily reeovered, and now happily, she is apparently perfqetly well. ' "With the verdict of the jury I entirely agree. It is diffieult to see how any intelligent juryman, who was hon.est and had any respect for his ■path could have come to any other decision." The judge also told prisoner that but for the fact that she had been in custody for nearly a year the sentenee would have been seven years- — a fitting punishment for placing the life of a child in danger, and such a punishment as would serve as a warning to others." "Of course," added the judge, "I shall disregard any suggestion that you were responsible in any way for ( the deaths of Mr. Kerr and Mrs. Day." 1 Police and Press Praised His Honour said that in his opinion there was no justification of any kind ifor the adverse criticism passed upon the police prosecution and the press. As far as he was able to judge the prosecution had been scrupulously 'fair, and the police, under the direcition of Inspector Cummings, deserv/ed a compliment for their ability and efficiency in preparing an extremely complicated and unpleasant case.