FINED HUNDRED POUNDS.

Shannon News, 17 March 1922, Page 3

FINED HUNDRED POUNDS.

PENALTY ON MOTORIST WHO*

CAUSED FATALITY

Gisborne, March 16In the Supreme Court, Albert Edmony Bourgeois, who was found guilty of manslaughter with a re-, commendation to mercy, came up for sentence.

The evidence called showed accused bore the reputation of being a careful driver. , Mr Justice Reed said that since the conviction the matter of punishment had occasioned him some anxiety. It was not a case of the usual disregard for public safety. It was not a case which called for punishment or imprisonment. Accused had been negligent, and such negligence brought him under the provisions cf the Crimes Act. Tlie v jury felt that the difference between accused’s negligence and the negligence of others who had done the same and

escaped with a fine for a breach ti the by-law, or escaped altogether.

was that his act caused a collision

which resulted in the death of a hu- , man being. The jury evidently felt the circumstances of a dark' drizzly night, added, to the poorly-lighted

vehicle, was a strong contribution to the cause of the unfortunate result. The negligence called for punishment. A large proportion of motor-

ists habitually disregarded the rules

of the road. It could not he too widely known that where an accident follows and death results, the offender is criminal!v liable, ilis

Honour thought the proper course in this case was to impose a fine of L‘loo, and order the payment of the cost of the prosecution.