A 89-year-old Taranaki man has been jailed for 18 months on
historical sex charges.
James Temutu Maxwell, of Waitara, 23km northeast of New
Plymouth, was believed to be the oldest defendant to ever
stand trial in New Zealand when he was found guilty in May of
three charges of indecent assault, The Taranaki Daily News
reported.
He was in line to be sentenced to home detention when he
appeared in New Plymouth District Court yesterday until he
could offer no any emotional harm reparation to his victim.
He had lied to the jury during his trial that he had $1.5
million held with his lawyer in Waitara.
An angry Judge Allan Roberts told Maxwell the fact he could
offer no money as reparation proved he had committed perjury
during the trial in an effort to sway the jury.
"It was a bare-faced lie," Judge Roberts told Maxwell.
"Even today, there is still no reparation. That takes from
you the previous option to serve a sentence of home
detention."
