BUILDER FOR TRIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 162, 29 September 1927, Page 18

BUILDER FOR TRIAL

CHARGE OF_NEGLIGENCE GREAT NORTH RD. FATALITY ALFRED LEWIS HASTEDT, a builder, of 10 Fernleigh Street, Mt. Roskill, was yesterday committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of having negligently driven a motor-car so as to cause death. Bail was fixed at £l5O. The victim was George Andrew Benjamin Norton, who was killed in Great North Road, Grey Lynn, on August 12. His wife and he had been coming into town an had forgotten her handbag. Norton went back for the bag and when he was crossing the road again he was knocked down by Hastedt’s car. Mr. McKean, S.M., held the adjourned inquest in conjunction with the criminal proceedings. Senior-Ser-geant Edwards prosecuted. Mr. Holmden represented the defendant and Mr. Astley appeared for the relations of Norton. Cross-examined, Ethel Norton, wife of deceased, said that he was running and crossing the street diagonally when the car struck him. Lawrence Edward Wait, City Council employee, estimated Hastedt’s speed at 30 miles an hour. From the point of impact to the place where the body was found was 60 feet, and the car travelled another 30 feet. Constable Riddle said that defendant made a statement in which he said he was travelling at about 20 miles an hour at the time of the accident. He was travelling near the water-table when deceased suddenly ran from the footpath right in front of the car. He immediately applied the brakes and pulled ur> in about 15 yards. Accused pleaded not guilty.