SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1930, Page 6

SUPREME COURT

MANSLAUGHTER, CHARGE. (Ry Telegraph—Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 30. The second manslaughter charge of the present criminal session of the Supreme Court was 'heard to-day, when Lawrence Thomas McKendry, single, was indicted that- at M'ethven on May 22nd. lie did so negligently drive a motor car as to cause the death of Rachel Annie Highley, thereby committing manslaughter. The Crown Prosecutor said that the case arose out of a collision between a motor car driven by accused and a gig. The mother was driving and the daughter was sitting on the left hand side of the gig, and was holding a hurricane lamp. The Crown alleged that the prisoner tried to pass the gig on the wrong side and contended that having seen that the gig. ahead of him was in trouble he was guilty of negligence in not slowing down or stopping the ear.

HERETAUNGA TRAGEDY

GAMBLE ACQUITTED

WELLINGTON, October 30,

John Matthias Gamble, motor specialist. this afternoon was found' not guilty of the charges of manslaughter or alternatively of negligent driving so as to eause the death of Joseph Alfred Banks, motor cyclist, and Cicely Mary Grigg, as the result of the collision at Heretaunga on September 24 th.

Judge Blair, summing up, agreed with counsel for the defence that if the accused were found guilty on one count, he must also be found guilty on the. other. On the question of speed, the evidence of the Crown witness, the traffic inspector who dealt with the effect of speeds at corners, could he disregarded. The Crown’s main evidence thereon was, therefore that relating to the skid marks and the translation of these into terms of miles an hour. The skid marks, however, did not necessary fix the accused’s position on the road. After a retirement of one hundred minutes, the jury returned a verdict of l< not- guilty.” The accused was discharged.

ACQUITTED. PALMERSTON N., October 30. In the Supreme Court, Charles John Durban Skinner was acquitted on a charge of negligently driving a car on the Sanson —Himitangi Highway, so as to cause the death of a school girl on' September 5. In summing up, His Honour, Justice Reed, reminded the jury that they really set the standard of care to lie observed by motorists. If the jury by the verdict fixed a high standard, that would be a deterrent to persons inclined to drive negligetntlv.