FERRY WHARF ROBBERY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 590, 16 February 1929, Page 1

FERRY WHARF ROBBERY

YOUNG MAN SENTENCED STILL PROTESTS INNOCENCE Found guilty this week by a jury on two charges of robbery with violence, Cyril Kevon McKenna, aged 21, was sentenced this morning to nine months’ hard labour on eech charge, the terms to be concurrent. McKenna was arrested with another young man in connection with an incident on the waterfront, in which two pedestrians were assaulted and robbed. Prisoner’s companion was acquitted. For prisoner, Mr. J. J. Sullivan said McKenna was virtually a first offender, although a police report showed lie had appeared in 1920 before the Juvenile Court for breaking, entering, and theft as a boy of 12. At that age he was not fully cognisant of the nature of the offence. “Despite the jury’s finding, the young fellow still stoutly maintains, that lie is innocent,” said Mr. Sullivan. Prisoner was a young man on the threshold of life, apd would be harmed by a term of imprisonment. Counsel put in a reference from the Public Works overseer on the Westfield deviation stating that prisoner had had a good record while in the employ of the department. His late chief was willing to give him a job when a vacancy occurred. FIRST CRIME OF ITS KIND This was the first time such a crime had been committed in Auckland, and was not as though the court was faced with an epidemic of similar offences, and had to put down increasing crime. Counsel suggested probation. For the Crown, Mr. V. R. Meredith said the offence was a very serious one, and people must be protected from molestation. He agreed with Mr. Sullivan that prisoner’s offence was not a serious act, and in itself ! did not necessarily indicate criminal j tendencies. “I have considered this case very carefully,” said his Honour. The prisoner, with his confederate, craitily set upon and robbed pedestrians by night.” The fact that the prisoner was not armed did not materially alter the brutality of the crime, said the judge. I The jury had recommended McKenna to mercy on account of his youth, and his Honour would give effect to the request.

“I shall not give him a sentence that will cause him to lose hope, hut 1 would not be doing my duty If I did not impose a term of imprisonment, the judge said, in passing sentence.