NATIVE MANSLAUGHTER CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3046, 17 November 1908, Page 7

NATIVE MANSLAUGHTER CASE.

MOTHER AND FATHER SENTENCED. -By Telegraph —Press Association. AUCKLAND, November 16. ■GHirini Ngatimo Hohepa and Ema, his wife, who were found guilty of manslaughter of their child, were sentenced this morning. Mr Carruth, their counsel, pleaded for mercy, on the ground that the husband was suffering strongly from the influence of religious mania, and the wife was acting under fear of her husband and his father, together with superstitious dread. The jury, by its verdict and recommendation, had brought in what almost amounted to acquittal. His Honor: No such thing; no fear ■of injury to herself could justify any mother burning her child to death. Addressing the male prisoner, the Judge said he had committed a shocking crime under the influence of barbarous, ignorant superstition, but if Maoris dreaded Makutu, they must be brought to dread still more the power of the law to prevent crimes under that influence. He imposed a sentence of ten years' imprisonment. The prisoner hissed out: "Go to h ," but was quickly hustled be- . low. The female prisoner was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The Judge said it was plain she dreaded the violence of her husband and his father.