ESSEX MURDER TRIAL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 124, 23 February 1928, Page 11

ESSEX MURDER TRIAL

SENSATIONAL STATEMENT BY KENNEDY ALLEGED SHOOTING DESCRIBED London, February 21. After a long conflict between opposing counsel as to its admissibility as evidence, a sensational statement alleged to have been made by Kennedy was read when the. Court resumed hearing in the trial of two men for , the murder of Constable Gutteridge. This statement described Kennedy as accompanying the other accused, Browne, to Billericay for the purpose of stealing a car. The statement detailed the removal of the car from Dr. Lovell’s garage. Kennedy said that they drove by country byways. “Turning on the main road to Ongar I saw a figure by the roadside which flashed a lamp as a signal to stop.. We drove on. I heard a police whistle. I asked Browne to stop. The policeman arrived and stood close ,to the car. He asked Browne where he had been and where he was going. Browne replied that he was doing a repair job. The policeman asked whether the. car was Browne’s. Browne stammered. I replied: “It is mine.” The policeman flashed the light on both our faces and asked if we knew the number of the car. “We gave the number, whereupon he said: “I’ll take particulars.” He pocketed his torch and pulled out a notebook and was in the act of writing when I heard a report, followed quickly by another, and saw the policeman stagger and fall into the hedge. I saw a large Webley revolver in Browne’s hand. Browne said: ‘Get out, quick.’ I immediately obeyed, and went to the policeman, who was lying on his back groaning. Browne said', ‘l’ll finish him.’ I said, ‘For God’s sake don’t fire any more. The man’s dying.’ “The policeman’s eyes were open, and Browne, addressing him, said: ‘What are you looking at me like that for?’ and 'stooped and shot him at close range in both the eyes. Browne said: ‘Let’s get back to the car,’ and he drove to Ongar. “Browne gave me the revolver and told me to” load while he drove on. While doing so I dropped an empty cartridge in the car. He drove at a great pace through many villages, and thence to Brxiton, where we abandoned the car.” Kennedy described how Browne smashed up the doctor’s cases found in the car and distributed them on various roads to destroy evidence; also how Browne, with a Webley revolver in his hand, threatened to shoot him if he left him, saying: “You’ll stay and face it out with me.” Browne did not object in December when he told him he was leaving. Kennedy added that he had been worried since the murder,and was often desperate, expecting arrest hourly When the reading of Kennedy's statement was finished, Browne jumped up excitedly and exclaimed:" “I hope von are satisfied with the useful way tile case has been concocted and put together by the police and everybody.” The Magistrate told Browne to be quiet.