WOMAN FOR TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 22

WOMAN FOR TRIAL

NEGLIGENCE ALLEGED*

MIRAMAR FATALITY

A young single woman, Violet Helen Maud Taylor, aged 22, was charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, before Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., with negligently driving a motor-car on Broadway, Miramar, on November 12, thereby causing the death of Kathleen Bensley Thornhill. At the conclusion of the hearing, the accused entered a plea of not guilty, and was committed to the SupreiiiP Court for trial.

Sub-Inspector J. A. Dempsey prosecuted, and Mr. W. P. Rollings appeared for the accused. ' ..

Leslie Glenny Smith, a radio Salesman, principal witness for the Crown, stated that about 9.15 p.m. on November 12 he was driving his car along Broadway, Miramar. in the direction of Seatoun, travelling at -30 miles per hour.'when be was passed by the accused while rounding a left-hand bend before Miro Street was reached. The accused's car passed on the centre of the road, and as. it continued it appeared to get oi. the wrong side. When he first'saw Miss;. Thornhill she was about half-way across the road, walking at a moderate' pace, She .then appeared to walk: two or three paces, and then commenced to run. She had run only three or four, paces when struck. The accused' veered slightly to, the right, and struck Miss Thornhijl with the front of her car. The car slowed up just: prior to the impact, and was I later brought to a standstill on the correct side' of the road.

Cross-examined by Mr. Rollings, witness said that the swing to the right was made by the accused just before the impact" It would be between the time Miss Thornhill started to run and the time of the.impact.

Ten o.ther witnesses were called for the' Crown. ' .' I

After the Crown's case had been completed, Mr. Rollings submitted that there was no evidence of negligence on1 the part of. the accused, arid that the case, should not be sent forward to another Court. It s was a case, he said, of a pedestrian at night running across the roadway into the track of an, approachirig car. ..■/•■ ■ .

The Magistrate said that he intended to commit ,the accused for trial. ■ ..,