READ V. THE QUEEN

IN THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

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THE QUEEN

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

THE QUEEN

Application for leave to appeal refused.

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BARWICK C.J. -

JUDGMENT

THE QUEEN

John Edward Read, Junior, on 4th November 1970 was sentenced by the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory to a term of three years imprisonment. A notice of motion for leave to appeal against this sentence was lodged in the Melbourne Registry of the Court on 25th November 1970. However nothing was done to bring the matter before the Court until

the applicant wrote to the Court through the Crown Law Officer at Darwin on 6th February 1971. as follows:

"I John Edward Read Jnr. of the above address,

am submitting this letter as an appeal by

letter. I was sentenced to three years

imprisonment for break enter and stealing,

by his Honour Justice Joske in the last Supreme

Court Sittings of November 1970. I have tried

several times to get an appeal. But find I am

endlessly writing letters. I won't stop trying ~-

to have an appeal heard. I just seem to get a

legal runaround! I know that these things

take time, but I have had to take this direct

approach. I also admit I am under the

Psychiatrist Dr. Cowdy of the Darwin Hospital.

I am appealing on the severity of the sentence.

My reason as follows. After losing my position

. at Gove that I had waiting to transfer from Davies Contractor to Nabaico. I broke entered and stole $5,780.00 dollars worth of gemstones from the Siesta Souvenir Shop. Four days afterwards I of my own free will after a message was left for me to go and enquire at the Police Station. I did this of my own free will. I was not accompanied by a policeman. I walked in of my own free will. I was asked if I had taken the stones and I stated I had and then directed the police with myself and

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returned everything. But was told later

$400.00 worth was missing. Yet I don't drink