WOULD NOT SUPPRESS EVIDENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1930, Page 3

WOULD NOT SUPPRESS EVIDENCE

' 'l‘.:■' ’. i li t •. ■ j ■.'■ *T”T~ “MORE THAN TJLKIR JOBS WERE WORTH.” PALMERSTONN., Oct. 29. “If members of the Police Force ol this country are worthy of their reputation, any evidence that would assist in determining the cause of: death would not )be suppressed. To do so would be more than their jobs are worth. ’ ’ : •" ■'' ~ Thus spoke Mr Justice Reed at the "* Supreme. Court to-day, in reply to remarks made by defending counsel, Mi Cooper, during tile course of the latter’is address to the jury. in a motoi ca.se. ' Counsel .asked why the police had not caUfd: to "giye .evidence the sister of the deceased girl, who, lie said, must have been an .eye-witness ,of the accident. ; - i - His Honour pointed out that it was quite probable that the sister did not. see the accident. r, . . J' Mr 'Cooper explained that he had n-it miaru Ttacfimiply suppression of evidence.' ' fi" •. - : His Honour::,! don’t think it proper to make a suggestion, like that, against t.he Police Force. It amounts to suppression. If the sister could give evidence that would affect the position, then these men are not fit to . hold their positions. Mr Cooper: When I spoke to the girl she would not answer questions She would say nothing,. His Honour: How does that affect the police not calling her? The assumption that the jury, should take is that the police made all possible inquiries, and I , am satisfied that no polieefiian would ..have dared not to call this girl- before the Coroner.