HENLEY MURDER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1938, Page 5

HENLEY MURDER

ACCUSED MAN FOUND GUILTY PLEA OF PROVOCATION FAILS SENTENCE OF DEATH PASSED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, July 21. Sentence of death was passed in the Dunedin Supreme Court today on Eric Sandagger Park's, aged 28, found guilty of the murder of Frances Amelia Lee’ at Henley on April 14. The jury took a little under three hours to find its verdict. In the latter part of his address, counsel for the accused, Mr C. J. L. White referred to the Crown’s attempts to construe from the diaries various intentions on the part of accused. Actually from the beginning to end there was not the slightest suggestion of a threat against Mrs Lee. Counsel read entries to substantiate this submission. There was no evidence of premeditation, he said, and everything pointed to the fact that Park’s purpose in going to Henley was solely to take the girl away with him to Port Molyneux. There was only one person who could refuse him this and that person vzas the mother, who must therefore have been awake and the provocation that must have been raised then resulted in manslaughter, not murder. The jury retired at 4.50 p.m. and returned at 7.40 with a verdict that accused was guilty of murder. When asked if he had anything to say why sentenc.e of, death should not be passed, the prisoner said in a low voice,. “No I have nothing to say.” Mr Justice Kennedy then donned the black cap and formally pronounced sentence of death. The prisoner maintained a calm demeanour throughout the whole of the proceedings.

PETITION FOR REPRIEVE (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Mr White, Parks’s counsel, stated this morning that he intended to lodge a petition for reprieve with the Executive Council.