Crime In Rarotonga
p. 17 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
Rarotonga, July 27.
A BRUTAL attack by a native youth on a European girl, 13 years old, occurred recently in Avarua, Raro tonga. The boy was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.
During the past few months an unusual number of cases of rape and carnal knowledge of girls under age (15 years) have been before the Court. Whether these are merely coincidental, or reflect a definite trend towards instability is difficult to say. Most of the offences have been committed in a manner which throws doubt on the mental balance of the offenders; but it is clear that plain cases of hooliganism must be punished with severity. The record of Cook Islands natives has heretofore been singularly good in this respect.