DEATH FOLLOWS FIGHT

Chronicle (Levin), 6 May 1947, Page 8

DEATH FOLLOWS FIGHT

ARAM CONDUCTOR ON CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER WELLINGTON, May 5, Arising ouf *ot a lignt wluen tyyit playy at the Newtown tramway bagu, \Veliingfcon, 011 tb,e aftenioon of Februqry 18, Neyille Trevor Lawrence, tijgm conductor, aged. 21, appeared in tlie. ; Supreme Court today charged vvith cqmmitting manslaughter in that, by an unlawful act, he killed Aielch Rau£ a fellow tramway conductor, a' Hinau. An alternative charge of * having assaulted Rain so as to cause liim acfuai bodily harm, was brought. Thy case was heard before Mr. Justice Cornish and jury. The Crqvyu Prosecutor, Mr. W. H. Cunnmgham, eonducted the prosecution and Mr. >b. H. Arndt appeared for accused \vno pleaded not guilty to both charges. ! Mr. Cunn-ingham, in outlining Wu evidenee to be given, said the Croypi'h caae was that accused struelc ^ain whose head was so injured by hi,s f&ij that'he died. aDr. R. G. B. Cook, house surgeoq ai the Wellington Hospital, said Ram wat senii-eonseious when adniitted to hgspi tal about 6 p.m. on February 18. Jle died at 2.50 a.m. next morning. D.r. F. H. Sim, who conducted tne post mortem, said he found cuts on the upper lip and near the left eye. ile also found. a bruise on the back of |ne head which appeared to have been. caused b3r Ram 's head striking soma sharp edge. He considered death was due to cerebral haemorrhage due h.o a rupture of blood. vessels of the bram caused by the blow to the back of tne head. James Silas WHliam Evans, motorman, said he saw aceuaed start s^ylarking with Ram. Accused startea. pushing Ram up and down the room, Ram said to accused: "You CQnie. up he're with a few beers and want tq run the place. " Accused replipd: " You get a good living in this country. Wuy don 't you go back to your oiyn cpun try. " Witness later saw Inspeytor Cocker separating accused and Ram. The latter was bleeding from the mouth. Later still he saw Ram on tne door and accused appeared to be stirling him on the face. Cross examined hy Mr. Arndt, witpess said accused and Ram appeared ta be skylarking in a go.od natured way. Ram appeared to be trying to wrestle with Lawrence. He could see no sign of liquor on accused. George Henry Dyhrberg, motorman, said he . heard accused use filthy language to the inspeetor in charge. Witness later saw accused start to. annoy Ram as the latter was counting up his casli and making up his tickets. Ram said: "Leave me alone you white b Lawrence said: "Can me that again and I will clean you up. " Ram said: "So you are. 55 Then" a ' fight started. Accused said he was g° ing to do a call-back with witness. Witness said he wrould do no call ^it'h accused in the condition he was m. Ram then attempted to get a grip on ' accused and as they fell Ram 's heau came in eontact with the wifidow- sili. I In witness 's opinion accused was in no I condition to ta.ke a car out that day. I He was of opinion accused had hau ( liquor. 1 Lionel Roy Cocker, tramway inspeotor, said he separqted accused and- Ram i while they were fighting. He lield theni ; apart as long as he could but as the\ i struggled to get at each other he lefi i the room and upon entering the rness- ( room he heard accused say to Rain: . "Shake hands and never sav that to a man again." Rain, who appeared tQ be all in, then struck accused a feebie blow and accus'ed rushed at him. Witness then stepped between them. Ram was in a pretty bad mess by this time and was talcen to the hospital. William Symons, tramway shift man, said he saw accused and Ram fighting. Accused struck Ram who fell upuer- j neath the bench. Witness then tolo accused to go and get washed. Witness led Ram into the messroom. They met Uccused coming out and Ram held his j hand out. Accused shook hands witu Ram. Ram then pulled his hand away and struck accused in the' face and tliey , started fighting again. Ram fell on tne fioor. Witness.. picked him up and Ram started to . votnit ' blood.^ He w*as then, taken to hospital. ('ross examined by Mr. Arndt, wixness said he did not see accused Q° anything to cause Ram to strike hipi on the face in the messroom. It was a. pretty hard blow. Detective W. C. Harper said when interviewed accused said he had noi had any beer on February .18, W tieiJ accused wras informed of Ram's deatn he said: "If he had not called me a b 1 he would still be alive." This c.losed the case. for the Crown. Mr. Arndt intimated that he wouia not cqll any evidenee for the defenee. The case- will be resumed tomorrow when counsel will/address the jury ana his Honour will sum up.