CHARGE OF MURDER

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3595, 5 February 1927, Page 2

CHARGE OF MURDER

TRIAL OF JOHN MERRITT.

London, February 2,

At the trial of John Donald Merrett, aged 19, who is charged with murdering his mother, Dr. Holcombe gave evidence that dgeeased, after admission to the infirmary, said: “I was sitting writing letters. John was standing beside me,, and I said: ‘Go away. Don’t annoy me.’ Next I heard an explosion and do not remember any more.” Dr. Holcombe admitted that he did not write the statement down.

Mr Aiteheson (defending counsel) : Are we at.the mercy of your recollections ten months after the event? Dr. Holcombe: Yes.

Dr. Holcombe gave evidence that Mrs. Merrett was shot behind, the ear. There was no sign of black-

ening or singeing. Mrs Penn, deceased’s sister, said that Mrs Merrett was married in New Zealand dn 1907. Her husband was an electrical engineer. They separated before the war, and the mother and son returned to England in 1925. The son attended Malvern Colloge for a year. The mother’s yearly income was £7OO. Witness said that Air Merrett was now living in India.

Witness added: “My sister told me: ‘They say I had a fall, biit I doubt it: It was a sudden explosion, as if John shot me.”’ The hearing was adjourned.

[Previous to going to England Airs Merrett and her son lived at Havelock North, Hastings, and later at Oitmaru, the son attending the Waitaki Boys’ High School. Airs Alerrett was found shot in a fiat at Edinburgh.] '