MURDER TRIAL OF FORMER AIRMAN
(Press Assn. —
whangarei shooting SHARP DIVISION OF MEDICAL OPINION
By Telegraph — Copyright.)
WHANGAREI, Last Night. Testimony of tjie moody and morose nature of the accused was called for the defence to-day when the trial of Reginald Alexander Donaldson (27), farmhand (Mr. Trimmer, Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Ross), charged with the murder of Sydney John Peachey, at Whangarei on July 14, was resumed. This lay /evidence was followed by medical testimony concerning the accused's mentality. Robert E. Hare, farmer, of Opotiki, testified that when in the Air Force, accused's usefulness was dependent on the letters . he got from Rona, later Mrs. Peachey. Apart from that, he was generally quiet and moody. Similar evidence was given by two witnesses who had known accused for years. "My opinion is that Donaldson is constitutionally incapa'ble of coping with the oi'dinary problems of everyday life without assistance and guidance," stated Dr. F. R. Chisholm, who was director of medical services with the R.N.Z.A.F. during the war and conducted special fitness tests. Witness said he had seen accused three times in prison and had, heard the4 evidence given in the case. He felt that accused was phy^ically normal, • an-d his condition was one of the mind. The evidence that his whole existence seemed to revolve round his attach'ment to the one girl showed a morbid attachment that was definitely abnormal.
Air Force Interrogation . Witness -read a report prepared by an Air Force medical officer giv'ing reasons v/hy accused was boarded out of the services, and stated that during an interrogation by a psychological offiqer, witness wept when Ropa was discussed. Mr. R. K. Trimmer: What value do you attach to the Air Force report? Witness: They confirm my opinion that accused was constitutionally inadequate and incapable of carrying on an unassisted life. His mind, which had previously been weak, became disordered v/hen h% was jilted. He ■changed from being tidy, clean, and .self-respecting, to becoming untidy, dirty and dishevelled. Where before he had a certain amount of interest in his work, he lost it completely. He presented a picture of a depressed raan withdrawing into his own misery. "I think that on the reading of the w-edding in the church magazine, something* gave in accused's mind." Mr. Trimmer: In your opinion, had accused at any time been certifiable for admission to a mental hospital? Witness: I am not certain, but he might have been while in his depres-{ sed state at home before the crime. Mr. Trimmer: Was he, or was he not certifiable at the time of the crime ?
Witness: I think I would have to say that he was. to Mr. Meiedith, Crown Prosecutor, Dr. Chisholm admitted that in some cases murders were committed by persons who were insan'e with jealousy. He considered accused, in his queer, distracted way, felt justified in shooting Peachey. Dr. Thomas Gordon Short, psyehiatrist at Auckland Hospital, said he was satisfied at the thne of the shooting accused was definitely insane. Other Medical Opinions ' A former Medical Superintendent of the Mental Hospitals' Department, Dr. Cecil Douglas Ma-cKay, said accused, in his opinion, was completely incapable of reasoning whether it was right or wrong* to kill Peachey. His Honor: Do you think that at the moment he pulled the trigger, accused knew that what he was doing was condemned and. forbidden and punishable by the law of this country? Witness: Yes. Dr. MacKay's evidence concluded the case for the defence.
Mr. Meredith then said the Crown proposed to call evidence in re'buttal. The medical officer of the prison, Dr. T. E. Wesley, Superintendent of the Avondale Mental Hospital, Dr. H. M. Buchanan, and his assistant, Dr. Palmer, would' say that accused\ not only knew the nature of his act but knew that it was wrong. Dr. Cyril Tewsley said -from examinations he had made of accused in prison, he found no evidence of any mental defects. Mr. McCarthy: Are you a psychiatrist? — !No. Dr. Henry Meredith Buchanan said that from the evidence of his actions he was of . opinion that accused knew what he was doing and knew that it was wrong. ,A11 his actions had show/n deliberation. He saw no indication of real mental sickness. Mr. McCarthy: Would you say then that this man' is perfectly sane and normal? Witness: It depends what normal is. It is hard to determine. The hearing was adjourned.
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Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5327, 13 February 1947, Page 5
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730MURDER TRIAL OF FORMER AIRMAN Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5327, 13 February 1947, Page 5
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