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Summary: Lagged For Life (NZ Truth, 22 May 1915)
On 22 May 1915, significant courtroom developments unfolded in Auckland concerning the individual John Leslie Lander, known colloquially as Leslie. This case had previously garnered public attention when a fellow accused, Edward McGurk, received a seven-year sentence for a grave offense. McGurk's conviction stemmed from a serious crime identified as an "awful and nameless offence," where Lander served as a critical witness against him.
Justice Stringer, presiding during McGurk's sentencing, emphasized the necessity of protecting societal morals and decided against criticizing Lander, who was not facing charges at that time. However, following media exposure, particularly by "Truth," further investigations were triggered that eventually aimed at Lander himself. The police collected sufficient evidence to formally charge him with two offenses, one concerning a young victim. Notably, McGurk turned state’s evidence against Lander.
Subsequently, Lander's court appearance before Mr. Justice Chapman at the Auckland Supreme Court led to a guilty plea on one charge and a not guilty plea on another, the latter resulting in a jury conviction. Due to the sensational nature of the evidence presented, Justice Chapman ordered the courtroom to be cleared and imposed a media suppression order to prevent public dissemination of the details. This order was deemed somewhat unnecessary given the already shocking nature of the case.
In a decisive ruling, Lander received a life imprisonment sentence for the first charge and an additional ten years for the second charge, underlining the judge's view that Lander posed a significant risk to the community. When pronounced this sentence, Lander simply replied with a "Thank you, your Honor," which may suggest either resignation or lack of remorse regarding the actions that led to his severe penalties. The case not only drew attention due to its shocking details and the nature of the offenses but also highlighted the judicial approach toward maintaining community standards and the implications of criminal accountability in society.
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