HENDERSON TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 121, 15 February 1921, Page 5

HENDERSON TRAGEDY

YOUNG MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF HIS MOTHER JURY FINDS HIM GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER By Telegraph—Pre»« A»6oolation. Auckland, February 14. The case of alleged matricide at Henderson came before Mr. Justice Stringer and a jury at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court this morning, when Frederick Spearpoint, a young man, aged 23 years, was (tried on a charge of having, about November 3, at Avondale, murdered Nora Blanche Spearpoint by striking her with an axe. Mr. Meredith (Crown Prosecutor) conducted the case for the Crown, and Mi - . Prendergast appeared tor accused. In reply to tho charge, Spearpoint pleaded not guilty. On Ithe application of his counsel, who stated that accused suffered from hip disease, Spearpoint was allowed to lie seated. Mr. Meredith said that accused, who was a natural son, was charged with the murder of his mother. The facts of the ease were practically not disputed, eo that the question whether or not Spearpoint killed his mother would cause the jury no difficulty. His statements to a blacksmith at Henderson practically settled the question beyond doubt. After his arrest accused, in reply to Constable M'Ghone, said he never had a chance, and that his mother had said she wished she had killed him when he was a child. There was no support for that assertion beyond a statement made to the police after the occurrence. During the Crown Prosecutor’s address to the jury accused ocassionally weplt. but became composed later and listened to the evidence. James Spearpoint, labourer, said he was accused's stepfather. ' Cross-examined by Mr. Prendergast, witness declared that he never heard his wife nag at accused. Counsel: Was she a little 'bit inclined to nag?” Witness: Not to my knowledge. Dr Fullerton stated that the last witness had said to him that he supposed the boy had lost his temper, and that the mother had probably I>een nagging him, as she was given to nagging, and the bov was of a violent temper. Dr. Murray described rhe injuries to deceased’s head and body, the result of which, he said, had caused death six days afterwards. Cross-examined, witness said that 11 < had attended accused in prison, and had found that he was suffering from extensive tubercular disease. There were several operation scars. Accuseds condition would cause irritability. Counsel: Would you descnU accused as being of very Witness: He seems a littlo below the average general condition. Re-examined, witness said that fcpearnoint was not particularly bright. P In reply to His Honour, witness said that provocation which a normal P er «™- might think slight might lie remitted more readily by a iiereon like accused Mr. Prendergast said that there was no dispute that deceased died in wn.equence of a blow delivered by the accused. The question was whether, on the evidence, accused' did not such provicttion »s to he struck. Counsel contended that as the result of angry words between accused and his mother the former lost his temper and also complete control of himself. He struck her with an. but bad he had a piece of wood in Ins hand he would have struck her with the wood, and if he had had noihmg in his hands he would have struck her with lU ’l’lie St accused was then called to the witness-box. His evidence occupied Irnlf-an-hour during which he gave a ver. clear account of incidents leading up to the altercation with his mother. - cused, who had given his evidence_w th a far-awav look in his eyes, is if picturing the scene, broke down when utteithe words: “Then I raised my hand and struck her.” Spearpoint then buried his head in his hands and his counsel Sa Jn dimming up His Honour said he thought iit was a reasonable inference f Ihe iui-v to tow that accused inflicted the blow in passion and upon proioc. ton and if thev so found they would return a verdict of guilty of manslaugh-

The iitrv, after eighteen minutes deliberation? found Spearpoint guilty of manslaughter, adding a strong recommendation for mercy. Sentence will Ire passed on Saturday.