§ 34. Mr. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now announce his decision concerning the sentence of ex-Corporal Munday of the Royal Hampshire Regiment in regard to the original sentence of three years' imprisonment, taking specially into account the extenuating circumstances arising in this case.
§ Mr. H. FraserThe original sentence was reduced by six months in October last year. My right hon. Friend has now reviewed it again and made a further reduction to two years' imprisonment.
§ Mr. NabarroDoes my hon. Friend agree that after remission for good conduct, this man will eventualy serve a period of sixteen months imprisonment only, compared with the original court-martial sentence of three years? Having regard to the quite extenuating circumstances of the case and the disgraceful muddle made by the War Office as to whether he ought to be court-martialled in this country or in Cyprus, might it not have shown more mature judgment 385 on the part of the officers sitting on the court-martial if they had given him a lighter sentence in the first place?
§ Mr. FraserThese were very grave offences and, as my hon. Friend knows, the soldier broke from arrest and fired a rifle at those who tried to recapture him. There were mitigating circumstances and they account for the review of the sentence.