THRASHINGS WHICH LED TO SHOOTING

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1949, Page 7

THRASHINGS WHICH LED TO SHOOTING

Press Association)

Story Of Two Brothers With One Domineering

(Per

AUCKLAND, May 30 Evidence that an„ elder son assunxed the role of head of the family and occasionaly thrashed his younger brother was given at the hearing of an attempted murder char-ge in the Police Court at Onehunga to-day. Ro b^rt Courtney Reece, aged 19, a labourer, was charged with attempting to murder his brother, Wiiliam Charles Reece, aged 25, a coppersmith, on April 23. Evidence for the prosecution alleged that after Wiiliam Reece had thrashed Robert Reece at their home Robert came qut with a loaded rille and fired it at Wiiliam. A hospital doctor said Wiiliam Reece had wounds in the abdomen and back which could have been caused by a bullet. Wiiliam Reece, in evidence, said his fatlier was away froni home and he regarded hirnself as head of the family. When he thought accused needed a hid ing witness gave it to him. "I suppose the thrashings I gave 'him were a Dic severe at times, " witness told the po . lice prosecutor. Witness said the tnain reason for discipiining his brother was that he borrowed money and did not repay it. Robert returned home on Sat urday evening and was borrowiu. money from his mother, Mrs Stone. Wit ness went into Robert 's bedroom, toi.! him he was getting sick of all this bor rowing and hit him several times wiri: his iist. Witness told his mother not to worrv and sat down to finish his tea in the kitchen. When he looked up Robert was standing in the doorway with a rifle, he said: "Come and light now." "My mother sprang towards him and tried to take the rifle," witness con tinued. l'l went into the passage. Robert was retreating but the next thing 1 knew was that the gun went off and I was lying on the ground." Cross-examined Reece agreed that he was inclined to be a little mrfro truculent after he had had several beers aud a game of football. Robert once coinplaiued to the police after witness hit him. He admitted that on the night of the shooting he had hit Robert pretty hard. Mother 's Story Alberta Ellen Stone, mother of tht Reece boys, said Robert aslced for a loan of ten shillings to buv beer for a party. She did not clear'y recollect what happened later but reniembered a bullet splitting the top of her little linger. She also reiuembered the arrival of a constable. She was in the kitchen when somebody turned the light 011 and she saw Wiiliam lying in the passage. Witness said Robert had previously threalened to do something to Wiiliam if he did not leave him alone.

Cross-examined, witness said she I thought it was Bill's interxerence between her and Bob that caused all the trouble. Maurice Reece, aged 21, said thai when his brother Robert appeared at the doorway 'with the rifle, he said to Wiiliam: "Have a go at me now, you - ." After the rifle had gone off Ro bert pointed it at witness and Mr Stone, their mother 's husband, and said: "You two are the next." Stone totJ Robert not to be silly. Witness then left to call a doctor and the police. Gave Himseif Up Sergeant Johnson said he was ap proaehed by Maurice Reece who tolc him of the shooting. Witness went to g-j to Church Street when he heard someone call out behind him. A voice said: "Hey, sergeant, I am the man you are looking forl I did the shooting." "I turned and saw accused running towards me," said witness. "He had a rifle in his right hand. I took possessio.i of the rifle. Accused said: 'I am . Bob Reece. I have shot my brother througn the stomach, ' I asked accused if it was an accident, ' ' continued witness. ' ' H-.-said: No, it was no accident. I did it wilfully. ' " Warned at (the Onehunga police station that if his brother lived he could be charged with attempted murder, ac cused told Sergeant Johnston that h-,.-vvan'ted to tell someone what liad hap pened. He told witness that he liad gori'to his sister's room, taken a bullet ami placed it iu the rifle that he had borrowed froni a friend. He then let hH brother have it. After that accused rau away from home with the idea of givuin hinjself up to the police. Cross-examined, witness said accuseu was very shaky when he first saw hua. "He seenied to me to be a kid tlia. was badly shaken and wanted someon.j to look after him, ' ' said witness. He kept repeating: 'My brother vvon't hit me again. ' It seenied to : >e soinctinng or an absession with accused. Accused 's Story Senior Detectjive Ifinlav said that he saw accused at the Onehunga police sta tion. Accused made a stalement 111 wliich he said: "My brother has given me thrashings on about iive oi six oceasions. I told him that I would shoot him if he did not stop. I went out rabbit shooting to-day with two cobbers and when I came home 1 tried to borrow 10s from my mother. My brother then gave me a hid ing. 1 cannot light hnn. ile is bigger tlian 1 am and he used to do a bit of fighting in the Islands 1 am no match for him. I thought if 1 did not get hihi he would get me. 1 shot him and he doubled up, span around and fell. 1 shot my brother to stop huu getting at me. 1 did not want to kill m\ brother. That is the last thing in the world I wanted to do. My brother always used his closed fists on 111 e and never his open hands. He thinks tuo much of himseif because he has been L11 the ring.' , Accused entere'd a plea of not guiltv and was ' committed to .the . Supreme Court fo'^tfial. An/applica tion for baii was heard in chambers. Bail was subsequently refused.