MARIE WEST'S DEATH

Chronicle (Levin), 23 April 1948, Page 5

MARIE WEST'S DEATH

Press Association)

Inquesf Opens With Evidence By Girl's Mother

(Per

WELLINGTON, April 23. About 40 witnesses ai;e being called at the inquest into the death of Marie Emily West, age^ 17-1-, who disappeared from her home on the .vening of July 7, 1947, and whose body was later found on the slopes of Mount-Victoria. The .. inspector in eharge of the deteetive branch at the Central Police station, Detectiv.e Inspector J. B. Young, appeared for the police and Mr. J. - E. Leicester wacched proceedings on belialf of the West family. - "I would like to " say that the police investigationSy which hav% oetn very thorough, have proveetj that the-moral character of .deceas-| .ed was excellent," said Inspeetoij! Young. ' The first witnesses gave formal evidehce and produced plans and photo'graphs of the Mount Victori-a area. Photographs of the body taken as it was lying »on Mount Victoria were produced by Sergeant J. Coielough, ^vho also produced prints showing details of a cord encircling the neck of the corpse and a white mark at the base of the skull. On Oetober 5, he said, the body had been almost entirely covered by branches or serub. , Mr. Leicester asked witness 'whether it was not correet that there was to the east of where the body was lying, and further up the Town Belt, a well defined path with access to Palliser Road at one end and Majoribanks -Street' at the other. Witness agreed that there was a path. $ Lynda Marcia West, mother of deceased, said that the last time she saw her daughter, Marie, aiive, was about 7.35 p.m. on July 7. Marie left their home at 13 McIntyre Avenue to meet a friend, > Cynthia Barrett at Courtenay Place at 7.40 p.m, The two giris were going to attend a Catholic youth movement meeting. Witness said her husband had been working overtime atjhis place of employment in Adelaiae Road. Her son, Terrence, had been out and had not returned home at about 10 p.m. Mr. West came home at about 9.20 p.m. Both he and" witness had retired' to bed shortiy after his return, the other children, . Jan, Elizabeth and Peter having gone to bed earlier. "About 1.30 a.m.," said witness, "I noticed alight refiecuing in the sitting room and thought it was a light in the kitcheii, and tnat Marie had arrived back home. I" then went to sleep and did not wake up until 6.45 next ™orning. My husband, when he bronght me a cup of tea, said he did not thinx Terry had returned home tlie nignt before. I got up and then founci that Terry was in bed. Nc"t thing my" daughter; Elizabeth, toid mi Marie had not returned home. I had a look in^ her hedrooin ana found her bed "had not been siept in. "The othqrs told me not to worry as Marie had probably stayed the night somewhere after possiblv Xesling sick. "My husband left for his work at 7.40 a.m. Although I knew Marie was supposed to have met Cynthia the night pr.eviously, I did not make any enquiries of her, nor did I ask any of my family to do so. However, I asked ean to ring Abbott's Laboratories, where Marie was employed. Cynthia lives at 6 Doctor's Comrnon, which is adjacent to Mclntyre Avenue." Witness proceeded to describe the clothes Marie had been wearing when she had left the house. Mrs. West, continuing her evidenqe, said that when it was discovered that Marie had not returned home or turned up at work, her sister, Jean, went to the home of Cynthia Barrett. There she learnt that Marie had not met Cynthia , the night before. Marie's father was informed of this by- telephone at his place of employment, and it was decided .that he should 'report the girl's disappearance to the police, which he'did next day. _ Witness said that Marie was quite happy at home, and there was no reason for her to run away. She had had no affairs with me, &nd had always been quite straight- j forward with he/r parents. Her associates * were all boys and girls around her own age. Marie was a bright and happy girl, witness added. _ Though she Would sometimes sit quietly and read,- she was never despondent. She was quick tempere'd, but got on well with the family and there were never any disputes with her. Orie evening during the washing of the dishes there was a slight argument, continued Mr. West. Her . father spoke jto her and she ran into the bathroom, reeeiving a black eye as she did so through hitting her head against the. bathroom door. The black eye was not caused by her father. Marie was inclined to romance sometimes, particularly about boys. She said fchat one night. she.- had been to a party when she had only been to the pictures and a dance with Cynthia Barrett. Marie was highly strung, but not hysterical. In February, 1947, she was operated on for appendicitis and afterwards she was all right for a while, but then sometimes complained of pains in hsr head. The . hearing is proceedirig.