LENIENT SENTENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1941, Page 6

LENIENT SENTENCE

FOR NEGLIGENT HANDLING OP FIREARM CAUSING DEATH OF MAN. JUDGE ADOPTS VIEW TAKEN BY JURY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.' HAMILTON. This Day. Charles Harold Longley, an invaladity pensioner, aged 39, who was found guidy in the Supreme Court, last week of manslaughter through the negligent handing of a firearm at Manunui on September 22 lasi, was sentenced by .Mr, Justice Smith tins morning to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. Longley was charged with the murder of Jeremiah O’Sullivan, but the jury brought in a verdict of manslaughter through the negligent handling i.f a firearm, with a tec immcnd;.iion to mercy on account, of prisoner's health at the time of the otl'ence. Pleading i s' lemmcy. Mr, W J King •■m l Longley had been of good eh..racier trior to the olfenee. with a harmomoiis family life. He had been in solitary c<mt'memont m.w Sept'mber •) H; H.motir wed th..’, he mow adopt the view taken by the jury. n.unely, that Longley did not intend to kill O'SMliv;m. bo! to fri:.:hu.m him He mid also to take mto consider..’.mi the jury's recommendation '•> mercy and the fact that Longley had iweii in solitary ctmtlncment for the pa I four tllllH-lv