KIRIKIRI DROWNING CASE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3167, 18 August 1917, Page 9

KIRIKIRI DROWNING CASE

THE TWO BOYS ACQUITTED. By Telegraph—l'ress Association. Auckland, August 17. Two boys, Claude liibbons, aged seven yours nuil four day. l ?, mid llichard EeJmiia, aged eight years and nine months, canie up tor trial on a, charge of manslaughter, at the Suprome Court, before the Chief Justice (Sir Eobert Stout). The charge was brought in connection with tlio death of a girl aged six years, who was found drowned in a creek at Kirikiri, near Thames, on June 19. The schoolmaster, Mr. J. W. Henwick, in charge of the school attended by the three childron, said that in his opinion the two boye would know that they were doing wrong in undressing the girl and pushing her in the water. Hβ didn't think, howevor, they realised that their action might result in injury to the girl. This portion of the crock was used by a number of Mormons for baptismal purposes, and ftehiina, who was himself a Mormon, would therefore bo less likely to think that it was wrong. The defending counsel did not call any evidence. He contonded that the whole of the evidence pointed to a complete unconciousness of wrongdoing. His Honour, in summing up, oxplained the law bearing upon the case, and pointed out that the main issues for tho jury were: Did the accused commit tho orfenco, and did tliey know that they were doiii" wroujr? Tho only evidence ou tho latter (point was that of the schoolmaster. After a short retirement the jury found H vordict ot not guilty, aud the accused were discharged.