THE WAIKINO MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2696, 16 February 1924, Page 3

THE WAIKINO MURDER.

HIGGINS GUILTY.

SENTENCE OF DEATH PRONOUNCED.

Auckland, Feb. 14. The closing stage of the trial of John Christopher Higgins on the charge of murdering two hoys at Waikino school was reached in the Supreme Court to-day, when counsel addressed the jury. Counsel for the accused urged that the crime was without motive, and that Higgins did not know the nature and quality, of his act.

Mr Meredith, for the Crown, said that the issue was simply whether, in spite of the. evidence that accused was suffering from a degree of insanity, he came .within that degree of insanity which excluded him for responsibility for the criminality of his act.

Tn summing up, Mr Justice Stringer said that it was admitted that Higgins had caused the death of the children. The onus was on the defence to prove that the accused was not responsible for his actions. Higgins was subject to the penalties of the law for murder unless he had exhibited to the satisfaction of the jury that at the time of the tragedy he was irresponsible within the definition of the law. He asked the jury to return a verdict, in one of two definite forms, either as a simple verdict of guilty in the case of the prisoner was not irresponsible, or on the other hand that he was insane at the time of the commission of the crime. “The jury might accept it as clear that Higgins is* insane, and that he suffers from delusional insanity.” The question it had to determine was whether on October 19th it had reached such a stage that he was no longer responsible for his actions. The Crown admitted that the accused suffered delusions, hut not to the extent that he was unable, to go a bout his ordinary avocations. Tn conclusion, he stated that lie had carefully refrained from giving any indications of his own opinion in the ease. It was entirely for the jury.

The jury, after an hour and three-quarters deliberation, found Higgins guilty. The foreman said that the jury wished to express appreciation of the tact and courage of Mr Reid, the schoolmaster, and also of the able manner in which the case had been presented.

Higgins was asked if he desired to say anything, and his counsel replied that lie did not. His Honour said that after a careful trial and an able defence, Higgins had been found guilty. It only remained for him to pass the sentence prescribed by law. He assumed the black cap. and passed sentence of death. Higgins showed no emotion.