CHARGED-WITH MURDER

Chronicle (Levin), 29 April 1949, Page 5

CHARGED-WITH MURDER

Press AssociatiohJ

Sequel To Fhiding Of Old Maii's BoRv - v

(Per,

ASHBURTON, ApriK.28Charged with the rourder of Httvan : O'Conuor, a 68-yea.r-Qld engine-drivev, at Chertsey on Mareh 18, Samuet Ar- ■ tliur Protheroe, faymer, aged 41, ap-U peared in the- Magistrate's Court before.; Mr. E. A, Lee today, Sir A. T, Don- t nelly (Christchurch) prosecuted and . Mr.*D. W. Russell (Christchurch) with' ! him ■ Mr. V. W. Russell (Ashburton;. , appeared for accused. The first witness, Sergt. AF, B.-.Keari i: ton, police photographer, said he wefit ■ to. the huf belonging to O 'Connor.. anfl ; found it in a state of disQrder, Fjre wood, elothing, sacks and kitchen uteh> ^ sils were ,piled on the floov. Looking U at the bunk he saw portion of a hurnan : face. Nothing was disturbed and' the , hut was locked till the following morn- j ing. Ile then returned with Dr. Fear- : .sou, pathologist. VVifness prodiiced photographs showiug extensive bruising I o'f the entire length of each side of the ■ ■)Ody. • One window of the hut waa ■ oroken and witness exarained the spoi : where a clirysantheinum had been toru \ from the garden. ■ 1 To Sir 'A;'thur Donnelly witness said that on the floor aiongside the bunk \vas a blue shirt with a badly toru sleeve, turned inside - out. The culfs were still fastened as though the -shirtaad been pulled off. It was bioodstained. Dr. A. B. Pearson, pa'thologisl,' Christchurch Public Hospital, said. there were blocks of wood on the body and these had blood stains on - thein. On the f'ront of the ehest there were abrasions and candle gre^se droppings adhered to the skin., External marks of injury ineluded widespread abrasions oi the trunk and limbs and also bruises, more particularly on the upper part of the trunk. Iu his opinion the cause of death was shock due to n\ultipie injuries. Argument After Drinks. William Hunt, war pensioner, of Tinwald, said he met accused in Christyhurch on Friday, ilarcli 18, an'd they went to the Chertsey Hotel where they met O'Connor who invited them to his. hut. Witness carried a gailon of beer to the hut. There he and O'Connor had a beer each and witness went back to the hotel to get accused who stayed behind. When he arrived back accused said to O'Connor, "You never shouteq for me. " Witness said he saw there was going to be an argument so-1 hewalked out. A chair was knocked over as he was Ieaving. An unknown man arrived vvitli three bottles of beer aad said he had come to shout for Brian. Witness received a lif't home in a passing ear. Reginald Nash, labourer, of Methven, said he went to O'Connor 's hut taking beer with him. He had never met accused. As he approached the hut he lit-ard an argument.- Witness said to himself, "To hell with this, I'm getting. out. ' ' Later accused passed witness in a c-ar which turned back. Accused said he had been having an argument with. O 'Connor. They went back to the hut and accused came out bearing O'Connor's body which was naked. He could not say whether O'Connor was dead or alive. He made no sound. Accused laid the body downvfor a sbort time by the gate. Later he took the hody back to the hut and returned saying he put O'Connor to bed. They then drqve down a side road and spent the night in the car. In answer to Mr. D. W. Russell, witness said they did not finish the jar oi beer before proeeeding to Methven next morning. Leslie William Robinson, licensee af the Chertsey Hotel, said he knew O'Connor vvho visited the hotel on the

afternoon of Friday, March 19. Fro theroe and Hunt also had been in the bar. Witness said O 'Connor was sober when Jast seen. He saw accused at 8 p.m. in the yard of the hotel. Accused tohi him that Brian had hit him on the head with some wood. Senior Detective F. J. Brady said be told accused O'Connor was dead., APW cused stated that O'Connor had hit him first, adding "Is he dead? Oh God '

help us!" ; Detec.tive-Sergeant G. W. AJty, Christchurch, read accused 's statement , which stated that when he visited O 'Connor 's hut, O 'Connor struck hinY and a light followed. He left the hut but went back after seeing Nash. He made O'Connor get into bed on the first visit to the hut. He rememb^red throwing things about the hut. Nash ! vvarned him about going back saying O'Connor was not a safe man to go near. He dragged O'ConnQr outjto the car to see Nash and then" dragged huiback and put him properly to bed, O 'Connor resisting all the time. Ht tipped a table upside down and every thing else he could, O'Connor abusing him all the time. He "cracked him" and when put to bed he was still mumbling. This concluded the evidence. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court. Christchurch, for trial on May 3.