SOLDIER GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2839, 2 August 1916, Page 5

SOLDIER GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER

EIGHTEEN. MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. ■ By Telegraph—Press Association. Uhristchurch, August I.' In tho Supremo Court to-day ilichiiel Carey, who appeared in uniiorro, was charged with the..manslaughter of Frederick William Allen, on July 15. Eviden.ce was given for tho Crown that prisoner called Allen a shirker, and struck him four blows on the face, tho last of which lifted hitiuoff his feet and he. foil on his head on-the road.' Ho was taken to the Hospital, where he died of coma . from haemorrhage, due to a fracture of the skull. Prisoner,' on oath, 6aid he reached Christchurch froin' li'eatherston Camp on July H. Next evening ho was going into a restaurant, when Allen, who saw him counting soma silver, said: "Do you want all that ?" Witness said: "Of course I do; what makes you ask me that?" Allen said': "Well, I could do with a little of it." j Witness thereupon said: "You don't look like a man who is' indeed of anything." Witness then moved, as if to .walk away, but Allen placed his -hand on witness's shoulder and-said: "Are you in a hurry?" Witness said he was, and added: "It would he better for you if you went to .fight for your .country instead of sticking people up' in the 6trMt." Allen then said: "The country! What has the country done for mo?" Witness then called deceased a shirker and hit him in the ribs and stepped back. . Allen then hit witness on tho mouth, breaking the plate of his teeth. They were then close to the kerbing. Witness thon hit. deceased two or three : times, and Allen. hitvat- him two or three times, but missed. AHen backed over tho footpath, and witness did not know if deceased fell through, witness' hitting him or whether ho tripped over, the korbing. . Tho jury found that deceased died as the result of a blow struck by prisoner, which His Honour said was equivalent to a verdict of guilty, and directed tho ' jury to find accordingly. • In passing sentence, Mr. Justice Donniston commented on the fact that prisoner had unjustly endeavoured to lay the blame on Allen. The prisoner would bo better employed fighting the foes of his country mther than spending his days in gaol, but in. Tegard to that he could only advise his friends to apply to the Government for a remission of the sentence. He might state that the prisoner had not been found guilty of any. moral turpitude. A-sentence at 18 months' imprisonment was imposed.