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7. Sentences for robberies of this nature and possession of
arms have tended to be considerably higher where undesirable
characters of bad type have been concerned, and it is there fore
felt that in the case of these two youths it was not fully
appreciated by the Military Court that it was a sudden yielding
to temptation by youngsters rather than a deliberately planned
crime as usually understood.
@.
The 1st prisoner was released on the 24th May and your
Petitioner therefore submits that the sentence of five years
imposed in reapset of the possession of a pistol on your
Petitioner's son, having regard to the equal guilt of both
parties in the offences of robbery is, under the circumstances,
very severe.
9. Sentences in England for similar offences even by adults
would seem to be of a much lighter nature, not exceeding on an
average twɔ years imprisonment, and of course lesa in the caSO
of juveniles.
10. This was an escapade of a young student, who was temporarily beyond his parents' control and whose condition was temporarily
aggravated by the then recent death of his mother, nervous
tension due to enemy action, and post-war exhilaration and
excitement and was not the action of a hardened desperado.
11. It is felt by your Petitioner that this continued imprison-
ment will do much to bring him into the company of hardened
criminals and persons with whom it is undesirable that a youth
of tonder up-bringing should consort.
12. It is also felt by your Petitioner that the present term of
imprisonment which his son has now served amounting in all to a
period of over 2 years and in addition has already undergone the
corporal punishment awarded is sufficient tɔ prove a complete
deterent to any future wrong behaviour on the part of his son.
13. Your Petitioner is anxious that his son should be in fresh
surroundings away from the Colony and away from any undesirable
: