KICKED ON THE HEAD.

Shannon News, 27 January 1925, Page 3

KICKED ON THE HEAD.

HEARING OF MURDER CHARGE. DUNEDIN, Last Night. At the Police Court, Phillip Gordon Sutherland was charged with the murder of John James Ryan. Wilson Jeffereson, a farm labourer, stated that deceased was on the Ran-furly-Dunedin train on December 23. When deceased rose to his feet at Middlemarch, he fell on a spittoon, badly cutting his head. He seemed stunned for some time. Jeanie Copland, storekeeper, Dunedin. stated that accused ititered hei store, on the evening of December 23, with another man. Ryan came in and ■ asked where he would get the cai. Accused told him. Both Ryan and accused were under the influence of drink. Ryan said something nasty io accused, who replied: “What are you coming at.” Later, Ryan struck accused and ran from the shop, follow - "i ’ by accused. A minute later witness saw deceased lying on the footpath, near the shop, and accused kicked him twice on the head. Further evidence was given by eyewitnesses of the alleged occurrence and an unsigned statement was produced by the police, in which accused stated that he remembered little or nothing of what had happened. He recollected having a fight with a man but he could not recall the details. He did not remember kicking anyone. Accused, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial in the Supreme Court.