Photo: Supplied via NZHA New Zealand man extradited to the UK to face charges of child sex offending has been sentenced after maintaining an extraordinary "vigil of silence" throughout his trial. Cecil John Thorn has refused to speak at all since he was returned to the UK in February last year. Judge Brian Cummings told Thorn: "You have maintained what has been termed a vigil of silence." The court heard that Thorn's silence began when he was questioned by New Zealand police in February 2020. Cummings said his "parting words" to a detective "were to the effect that you were now embarking on a vigil of silence".

Source: Otago Daily Times March 16, 2021 01:07 UTC