HUTT ROAD TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1927, Page 1

HUTT ROAD TRAGEDY

SENTENCES ON THE AIKN. (Hy Telegraph —Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 2S. Arising I ruin ihe motor tragedy on the Mult Road, oil May 21, which resulted in the death of Henry Brian Kenny, service ear driver, two men. Harry Staeev and Ernest Edward Harper. were to-day charged in the Supreme Court under the Crimes Act. with manslaughter, and lurthor with negligently driving a motor-ear, thereto' causing the death ol Kenny. Justice Reed is presiding. Mr Alaenssev appears lor the f rown, Air Dolan for Stacey, and Air Leicester for* I lai'per. This is a ease in which two men. allegedly under the influence of fiquor. converted a ear to their own use, and while speeding along Hull Road, trashed into a service ear coming in from Alasiortoii. killing the driver.

Accused appear to differ as to who vias driving the ear. hut Air Macasscy in his opening statement, said the case was one of joint adventure. Both accused were in occupation of the car, and both jointly were in occupation. WELLINGTON. July 28.

Henry Stacey and Ernest Edwin Harper were found guilty of manslaughter. Stacey was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour and Harper to nine months’ imprisonment with hard labour. The judge, in giving effect to the jury's recommendation to mercy, said the facts of ihe case were that on May 21th Stacey and Harper, who were drunk at the time, stole an Essex car and careered along the Hutt road at about 50 miles an hour. There they collided with a service motor ear, coming to Wellington from Afasterton. with the resuit that Henry Brian Kenney, the driver of the service ear. was killed. TTie evidence of the Crown pointed to the fact that Stacey was the driver, while the counsel for accused respectively sought to prove that the driver of the ear was not their particular client. The jury was away 75 minutes. Hie two accused were lucky to escape from the collision with their lives.