MURDER CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1932, Page 6

MURDER CHARGE

MORE MEDICAL EVIDENCE,

f Per Press Association — Copyright.)

NEW P 7 I I MOUTH, Nov. 16. The trial of Hubert Cedric Jepson, charged with the murder of his wife and two children at New Plymouth on September 15th., entered the third day to-day, when evidence for the prosecution, in rebuttal, was brought. Doctor John Russell said tlieie had had some evidence of epileptic sympl- - in Jepson’s condition on November 28th., 1931. Even if that fit wMs definitely epilepsy, it was still necessary to move that the acts on September 15th. were associated with cpil-

e i )s y- . Dr. John W. Williams, medical superintendent at Porirua Mental Hospital, said be had examined Jepson on October 21st., and found that ho was quite sane,, and everyone 'agreed that, lie .was now quit© sane. If he was insane .at the time of the crimes, one had to look for 'some form of insanity compatible with bis condition, at the time of examination. Witness- therefore asked if accused had ever had any fits, and accused told him of wlftt he knew of a fit in November. Witness did not think, the fit of November, was epileptic. From hits examination of accused, 'and from what he had 1 heard of the evidence, E.J had come to the conclusion that the accused was not in any wayinsane on the morning of September 15th.

Witness said he was of the opinion that Jepson knew the nature and quality of' Iris act, and thbt be was deing something which was wrong. Witness could appreciate wlmt had been calWl accused’s motive for the crime. He imagined he was doing his Paniilv a kindness. That was not necessarily insanity, hut wit-mas could follow the man’s reasoning, though Ins judgment may have been at fault. His Honour—ls that fortified by the fact that he now says he thinks be Was justified in what he did? Witness: Yes, it is.

'Witness -said there w«s no evidence of an epileptic furore. Jepson had not an epi'eptie character, though that did not rule out -tih e possibility of epd«Psy> if he -was epileptic. ,It w?is obvious in the opinion of witness, that -he was not, suffering from any, form of epilepsy at the time of the crimes..