A MOTOR FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1922, Page 5

A MOTOR FATALITY.

YOUNG BOY KILLED. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. By Teicjrapb.—Press Association. Auckland, Last NightAt the Supreme Court to-day, a charge of manslaughter was preferred against Douglas Creer Dent, aged 21, aa the outcome of the death of Andrew; Peter Russell Green, aged 12, who waa knocked down by a motor ear after alighting from a tram in Menukau Road, Parnell, on May 22. The evidence for the Crown waa to £he effect that the car had stopped and the motor had come up at 20 to 25 miles an hour. One witness remarked to accused: “That is no speed to be travelling at.” Dent replied: “I wasn’t going fast; besides there is the train stop indicating that incoming trams stop some 35 yards away.” The motorman of the tram said deceased left th 6 tram immediately it stopped, which was at the proper place., Mr. Leary, for accused, said the defence would fbe that deceased jumped off the tramcar while it was travelling at from six to ten miles an hour, as he did so the motor-car came up at teen to fifteen miles an hour. Evidence would be given that deceased when jumping off did not look behind, but ran virtually to his death. One witness said that if deceased had looked he could not have failed to see the motor, but he practically jumped in front of the motor. An electrician gave evidence that Bent’s car had a leakage in the engine and this affected the speed of the vehicle. A passenger on the tram said it was still moving when the accident occurred. Accused’s mothet said the motor was travelling at fifteen miles an hour. The trani stopped quite suddenly and deceased appeared in front of the motor. Her son sounded hia horn and swerved to the left. The hearing was adjourned.