TRIAL STOPPED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19144, 29 October 1927, Page 15

TRIAL STOPPED.

MOTORIST NOT NEGLIGENT, UNABLE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. (FRKSS ASSOCIATIOK TMJBOBJUT.) AUCKLAND, October 2S. The trial of Alfred Louis Hastedt, charged with negligently driving a motor-car thereby causing the death of George Andrew Benjamin Norton, took place in the Supremo Court to-day. Tha accident giving rise to the oaso occurred on tho Great North road. Grey Lynn, on August 13th. The widow of deceased gave evidenco that, she was boarding a tramear when she heard a crash and saw that her husband, who had gone back to get a bag she had left at home, had been struck down as he was returning. Estimates of accused's speed rauged from 2o to 31* miles an hour. Police evidence disclosed that accused, in a statement, said ho was travelling at 20 miles an hour on tha correct side of the road when doceased suddenly ran out. Accused said he pulled up in fifteen yards. "Do you think that on the ovidene* you are* entitled to ask the jury to return a verdict of guilty'r'' Mr Justice Reed asked counsel for the Crown at tho conclusion of the case for the prosecution. Mr Hubble admitted Shore was room for very grave doubt on tho question of negligence, but said he preferred tho jury to decide. His Honour: If this man can bo convicted anyone can be in a ease wbora he strikes a man who runs out on a street in front of him. Mr Hubble: 1 admit that tho circumstances are not so strong as in many cases brought before the Court. His Honour (to tho judy): Do yon want to hear any more ovidenee? The foreman and several members' of the jury replied that thoy did not, and after a short discussion roturned a verdict of "not guilty" without leaving the benches. "I quite agree with.you," said Mr Justice Reed. "I do not think the evidenco warrants any other verdict."

Accused was then discharged,