DEATH OF GIRL.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20234, 12 May 1931, Page 4

DEATH OF GIRL.

MOTORIST SENTENCED.

FOUR MONTHS* IMPRISONMENT. Having been found guilty of negligently driving a motor-car on the main road near Geraldine on Easter Saturday, thereby causing the death of a girl, Vera Goodeve, David Bell appeared before his Honour Mr Justice Adams for sentence yesterday morning. Mr P. P. J. Amodeo, on behalf of the prisoner, said that he was a married man with a child. In 1928 he had been found guilty on a charge of being drunk in charge of a car, in consequence of which he was fined and his license taken from him. On the present occasion there was something to be said in prisoner's favour, in that the unfortunate victim of the accident was riding without a light. The accident, therefore, was not a case of utter recklessness. Another point which counsel would ask his Honour to take into consideration was the fact that prisoner had had to face the expense of defending two trials, the jury at Timaru having failed to come to an agreement. There must have been some doubt in the minds of the jury at Timaru regarding the prisoner's guilt, otherwise they would not have disagreed. Prisoner was not a wild young man, nor w;as he of the criminal type. He was weak financially, so that if he went to prison his farm would go back. Counsel asked, that his Honour should, impose some penalty other than prison on the accused, and stated that if a fine wero inflicted a friend would assist him to meet it. Mr Brown said that the offence was a serious one. It was true that apart from his drinking habits, which had led to the collision, prisoner led a good life. "The paramount duty of the Court is to protect members of the public from such a dreadful accident as occurred in the present case," said his Honour. There was no doubt that prisoner had been indulging in liquor to such an extent as to affect hia judgment as a driver. Otherwise he would not have passed a car proceeding at 30 miles an hour, to do which involved his speeding up to 40 or. 50 miles and travelling on his incorrect, side for a considerable distance in the dark. The result was that the young woman had met her death. Such cases were serious

and embarrassing, the difficulty being that the persons charged were otherwise reputable citizens. Prisoner would be santenced to four months' imprisonment, to commence from the beginning of the Timaru sessions. He would also be declared, incapable of - holding a driver's license for five years.