CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 14 May 1917, Page 4

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

A MOTOKIST CONVICTED

DUNEDIN, May 12.

At the Supreme Court William Lalor Shiel was charged witli manslaughter im connection with the death of Neil Mc-lfc Culloch on February 14th. Death resulted from injuries sustained in a collision between accused's motor eyele and McCulloch's push bike. Mr. Hanlon, counsel for the defence, said one of the witnesses spoke of accused's speed as higher than 17 or IS miles an hour, whilst one witness put it at six miles. It was absurd, he asserted, to say that a cycle going fifteen miles was at an excessive speed. Apparently accused endeavoured to pass on the right sid e in compliance with law and practice. The judge, summing up, said that if there was no collision it was impossible to understand how McCullcch was knocked off his bicycle. The jury, after 25 minutes' retirement, returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation that the accused should be dealt with leniently on account of his youth and the absence of a sense of responsibility.

Mr Hanlon said accused was 22 years old, and had not arrived at the age one could fully appreciate responsibility.

The Crown Prosecutor said since McCulloch's death accused had been guilty of furious driving, by which accused himself was thrown and seriously injured. The police agreed not to prosecute in that matter on the understanding that he would not use the car or cycle till the present case was decided. That undertaking was given, but a few days later accused was seen driv-

ing a motor

The judge said such recklessness as that prisoner had been guilty of should be put down. He had every desire to give expression to the jury's recommendation but it was his duty to impose a reasonable term of imprisonment. He would make it as light as he could. Accused was sentenced to six months' hard labour.

A most unusual position arose in the Supreme Court on Friday morningwhen the jury were being empannelled in the case against Young Shiel. The panel became exhausted on account of the number of challenges exercised by counsel, and then, by direction of the Court, the Registrar ordered all doors to be locked while he called on those in Court to complete the jury. Six jurors were required, and several well known business men, who were in Court through being witnesses in a previous case, were empannelled. %