MENTAL PATIENT HURT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1929, Page 5

MENTAL PATIENT HURT

ATTENDANT’S TRIAL. JURY DISAGREES. [ilf TELEGRAPH —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 7. The filial stages were readied to-day in the Supreme Court in the trial of Attendant Tyerer, of the staff of Porirua Mental Hospital, on a charge of causing bodily barm to a patient. Air Leicester, for the accused, put it to the jury that Tyerer’s record precluded the possibility of bis having committed such an assault; and also that the record of Quintall, the other attendant was such that there was grave danger of accepting his evidence. It was impossible to say that the patient’s evidence was not that of a man of unsound mind. If the jury had any doubt, the verdict should be in the accused’s favour. In the course of his summing up. bis Honor remarked on the gravity of the matter. No man in bis sound senses would come to the conclusion that a man would inflict on himself such injuries as the patient in this case had sustained. In regard to Quintall’s evidence, lie said that, because the man bad been convicted of an offence, it did not follow that lie was incapable of tolling the truth. Tn connection with the defence allegation of a fight with another patient-, his Honour asked why Strutliers was not called to give evidence which would be of supreme importance to the defence. On the whole of the evidence, the jury were entitled to consider that the Crown case had been proved, but the matter was entirely in their bands. The jury, which retired before lunch, returned at 4.45 p.m. to Court, when the Foreman stated that they were, unable to agree, and there was no chance of. an agreement. The jury was thereupon discharged, and a new trial was ordered for Monday next. Accused was allowed hail.