UNUSUAL COURT SCENES

Chronicle (Levin), 12 December 1946, Page 5

UNUSUAL COURT SCENES

Received Wednesdav, 11.41 p.ni. SYDNEY, Dec. 11. Extraordin.ary seenes were witnesseii at the eonclusion of the trial in th* Central ('riniiual Court this evening. oi iSidnev Grant and Keith Hope for the murder of Detective Conslable Victor Donald Ahearn. After an hourV deliberation the jury fouiul Grant giulty and Hope not guilty. Grant was sentenced to death. Grant, when asked if he had any thing to say, made a draniatic outliurst against the jury, describing theni as a " bunch of savages" and tlu■Crown Prosecutor, Mr. Crawford, K.C. as "the biggest savage of the lot Grant declared that the jury had sont an innocent man to the gallows. For the rest of their lives he hopcd it pricked their consciences. Mr. Justice Herron said lie porsonally agreed that the jury's verdict was in evitable. Remanding Hope to his former -custody, Mr. Justice Herron told him lie had been very fortunate. The Crown 's ease was that while Grant and Hope were being taken in a police car from Long Bay Gaol t" North Sydnev poliee -station for ques tioning-, Grant fatally sliot Ahearn Grant 's defeiice was that the pisto! went off accidentally.