TRIAL OF BUTCHER

Chronicle (Levin), 3 August 1948, Page 5

TRIAL OF BUTCHER

Press As's'ocinti'on)

Seqiiel Tb Discovery Of Woitiaii's Bbdy

(P'er .

CHRISTCHURCH, August 2. Ten of the wimesse& io i)e culled by the Crown, had been heard when the lirst day ended of the trial in the Supr&ne Court of William Albertus' Ivan Stuck, a butcher, aged 40, On a charge of murdering Bertha Bessie Ainy Day at Paparua on Hay 14. Tlir .jiiil whieh is expected to last at least all the weelc, is being heard by Alr. .Justice Fleming and jtiry. The Crown Prosectltqr (31r. A. W. TiroWrl ) and with him 5lr. W. G. P. Cunnirigham, is appearing for the Crown and Mr. G. I. Josepli, of Wellington, and with him Mr. E. 31. Hay, is appearing for Stuck who pleaded not guilty to the charge. At the luncheon interval the jmy was taken to Paparua to view the scene of the alleged iiiurder. Sergeant J. B. Kearion,' officiai xjolice photogi'aplier, described the situation of tlie body in the hole and the nature of the country nearby. Iie mentioned finding a hair net and comb, brokeu dentures, sniail piece of bone, tuft of hair, brain matter and a shoe. After accused made a statement to the police he again visited the area but was unable to Hnd anv hair, fibre or xvool on the fence whicU one would expect to lind if clothing had been caught up in the fence. Witness produced photogiaj/hs of the area wKere the body was found, of the body and of portions of the fence. 31r. .Toseph: Would you agree that tlie fuyther east you go the wilder tlie country becomesf — Nov. • J 'ijlifere is no niuch gorse after that pafch. 31 r. Josepli: What is it like nearer the river? Is it very wild indeed? — Yos. Tliere is high gorse and Ijroom. 3fr. Josepli: You said in the lower Court tliere wero green libfes on the fence in the section next to the bloodstgins ?— Y"es. Did von'take ihenf away?-Tc-No. They were still tliere the last time t saw them about three wfeeks agb. Did it not oecur to you they might be" impbrtant evidehce? — Tes., . Thatjs why I left them there for the jury tq see. .1 '* i.- ; , , t; ; ' ; ' 3fr."Joseph: Will yoii fiy t6 recol'leeti the actual words of instruction to tlie mill nianagers when you handed them the dead womaiv's clotlies? — The words with a direct bearing on the case were: "Will you examine every iucli of this clotli and see if you. cau flnd auy dainage whieh would be eaused by iieing caught in a barbed wire?." Did yow yourself say ; you -had -Uot, been able t'o fmd any^rM-I ihay, ' liav'e. YTou examined the coat very carefully?.— YeS. • • ' . Are all the' buttous there? — As far asI am aware. - • . 1 31 r. Joseph: Have a look for the button that goes with that hole. AVitness: That is a'lapel buttonhole and does uot need a button. ' . 3ir. Joseph.: AVell, ITL.,show ' you where there was a button oncev .... Witness: You 5niy;.'be ' fight;, '-.Mr. Josepli.- I won't argue with you. 31r. Joseph rWas'Any attempt •made to cover the dentures, o comb [ov liairnet whieh were l'ound? — No. They looked as if they were just throWn there. Attempts to cover tlie blo'ostains were very hastily done? — Yes, very crudely. Mr. Joseph: Jliq normal way tp get through that ferice would be to lift up the second wire and get throtigh between it and the next plain wire? — No, between the barbed wire and the lirst plaln wire. 3Ir. Josepli: A woman 5ft 2in and wgal'ing a skirt tvould more I?asily aecpmplish the mode I suggest? — No. 1 don't think so. But she would rislt being caiight Pa the barbed wire? — Yes. Tlie Court adjourned till tomorrow.