INSANITY VERDICT IN CASE OF MURDER

Chronicle (Levin), 1 May 1947, Page 7

INSANITY VERDICT IN CASE OF MURDER

Presz Association

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AUCKLAND, April 30. The facts seerh abundantly clear that he did murder his wife and I think the , main inatter you will have to consider will be the question of his mental capacity. This statement was made to the jury today £>y the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. E. Meredith, when a pottery worker, Chafles Andrew Vazey, agcd 51 (Mr. Aekins) stood trial before Mr. Justice Callan and jury in the Supreme Court on a charge that, at Avondale on Pebruary 25, he murdered his wife Sarah Purdie Vazey. Outlining the evidence eounsel said Vazey and his wife, a rniddle aged couple, apparently lived happily at a house in Great North Eoa.d, Vazey being empioyed at thc pottery works at Kew Lynn. They had no children and Mrs. Nancy Boyd, an elderly widow, who was Mrs. Yazey 's aunt, lived with tliem. Y'azey's health had not been good froin as far back as December, 1944. Aecused was suffering from an anxiety neurosis and on the advice of Dr. Hercus, he went into a mental hospital as a Voluntary patient, staying there for iiVe months. After he recommenced work in 1946 he developed symptoms of having bouts of fever and went to Green Lane Hospital. He was discharged in April, going back to work. He #was niuch brighter. During the election period his interest in the elections improved his condition but after he reverted to attaeks of fever.. On Pebruary 17 he made an unsuecessful attempt to eleetrocute liimself. Dr. Hercus suggested Vazey should go back to the mental hospital and it was arranged that he would see a psychiatrist on Pebruary 25. The evidence, said eounsel, would be to the eft'ect that on Pebruary 25 he would not go to work and said he was going to change his mind about seeing a psyehiatrist. In the morning he went shopping witli his wife. They had lunch and tea together with Mrs. Davis. Mrs. Davis left the room after tea, Weaving the husband and wife together. A little later she heard a vell and clatter of crockery. When she went back to the room and saw Mrs. Vazey on the floor with Vazey standing over her and striking her on the head with a hammer, Mrs. Davis called for help and elosed with Vazey, eventually managing to get the hammer. Attracted by the noise next door, neighbours came in and Mrs. Vazey was earried to a bedroom. Later, in the confusion, Vazey was noticed to be in the bedroom with a razor apparently trying to draw it across his wife's throat. Mrs. Davis, apparently a woman ot courage, again caught hold of hina and with the assistance of a neighbour, toolt the razor away. Mrs. Y"azey's skull was fractured and she was dead when a doctor was suinmoned. Counsel said that when Dr. Hercus was called and asked Vazey why hc did this, he replied: "It's the only way out. ' ' He was then quiet and answered questions but in prison next day he was dazed and his mental reaetions werc distinctly bad. • Mrs. Nancy Boyd Davis testilied on the lines indicated by counsel. She said Vazey had several times talked of eommitting suicide by riding in to a motor truck when on his bicycle. Cross examined by Mr. Aekins, witness said she had never heard Vazey and his wife quarrcl. He was of a quiet disposition and did not drink. About two years ago he was very disappointed at not receiving promotion in the pottery works to a position which would have suited his artistic al)ility. After a retirement of half au hour the jury returnod a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of insanity. Medical evidence was given to show that accused was suffering from a severe mental disease and was not responsible for his actions at the timo of the tragedy. He was committed to a mental asyluin unt.il the Miiiister's plcasure was known.