NEGLIGENCE PROVED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 447, 31 August 1928, Page 13

NEGLIGENCE PROVED

DEATH OF MAORI WOMAN LORRY-DRIVER CONVICTED (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, Thursday. The trial was concluded in the Supreme Court at Hamilton to-day of a young motor-driver, John W alker (Mr. J. F. Strang), who denied having driven a motor-vehicle at Waihou on July 14 while in a state of intoxication, and causing the death of a native woman, Mrs. Hiria Turawaho. He also denied a charge of having driven the vehicle negligently and thereby caused the death of Mrs. Hira Turawaho. Walter Boocock, motor mechanic, gave expert evidence of the effect of wobbling of the wheels of a motor vehicle. He said the accident night easily have been due to a wobble developing. In addressing the jury, Mr. Justice Blair said it was a question whether accused was affected by the whisky he had admittedly drunk to such an extent as to make him incapable of driving a motor-vehicle. The brakes of the lorry were in a dangerous condition, said his Honour. It was an act of negligence for a driver to take a vehicle out with what he knew were defective brakes. The jury had to consider whether negligence had been proved against the accused, and if so, whether that negligence caused the death of the woman. After half an hour’s retirement the jury found accused not guilty on the first count and guilty on the second. Sentence was deferred until tomorrow. FINED £IOO DEFAULT FIXED AT SIX MONTHS (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, To-day. John Walker, found guilty of negligent driving when his lorry overturned near To Aroha, causing the death of a Maori woman, was fined £IOO by Mr. Justice Blair in the Supreme Court to-day, in default six months’ imprisonment.