MURDER CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1931, Page 6

MURDER CHARGE

COATS ON TRIAL. (By Telegraph—ter tress Association) WELLINGTON, November 2.* The trial of Ueorge Errol 1 Coats, charged with murder of Phyllis Avis Symons, aged 19, on or about June' 16 last was commenced in the Supreme Court before Justice Blair to-day. Despite the rain, a large crowd, including several women gathered outside the Court at an ear^jhour. They had a lon|Mtait, some of, over two hours, for they were not admitted to the body of the Court until ali the formalities connected with the empanelling of the Jury had been gone through. The Crown Prosecutor, in his opening address, said that accused was a widower with six children in various orphanages. He first got into touch with the dead girl when he was working on relief works in Mortimer Terrace, where the girl’s parents lived. Early, in March the girl left her home and went to live with Coats. It was the Crown’s contention that the girl left her home onr account of her condition, lor which * t was alleged Coats was responsible. •Counsel detailed the various acts and conversation which had taken place in regard to the girl’s condition and said that the accused had told one witness, Glover, that if Phyllis did die she could easily be buried in the gully at Hataitai 1 relief" works, where Coats was work-

ing. ' The Crown Prosecutor continued that later Coats had been seen digging a hole at Hataitai and “there will be 1% doubt in your minds gentlemen, tha|when Coats was digging that hole he intended to murder Phyllis and bury her there.’’

Counsel referred to an incident where it was alleged that Coats had hit the girl over the head with a piece ot pipe, but she had recovered. The Crown contended that Coats made arrangements to. have a shovel left out at Hataitai. on the night of 25th June so that he could 'kill and bury the gill that night. Unexpected visitors, however, prevented tlie carrying out of the plan that night, but on the following night the girl and accused were heard to leave the house where they were living. The Crown alleged that the pair walked over to Hataitai, where Coats hit the girl 011 the head with a shovel several times and buried her. In answer to inquiries about tlie girl, Coats said thut the girl had gone home, but the girl was not seen again since. A taxdriver named Melville had found a letter from the girl and as a result of his handing it on to the girl’s father, the police had seen Coats. Afitei a search lasting some days the body of the girl was found at Hataitai covered by a .sack which the Crown would definitely establish came from the house where Coasts and the girl had lived together. Counsel’s address lasted nearly an hour.