NEGLIGENT DRIVING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1938, Page 6

NEGLIGENT DRIVING

GARAGE PROPRIETOR FOUND GUILTY DEATH OF PEDESTRIAN IN CHRISTCHURCH (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 20. Alexander James . Blackburn, city garage proprietor, was found guilty in the Supreme Court today on a charge of negligent driving causing death. The jury added a strong recommendation to mercy and found him not guilty on the second charge of failing to stoj? and give all practicable assistance to the injured man, John Anderson. Blackburn was remanded for sentence. Mr Justice Northcroft directed that on the charge of failing to stop and give all practicable assistance Blackburn must be found not guilty. It had been shown in evidence that Blackburn did stop and did ascertain that there had been an accident. It had also been shown that at the time everything possible was being done to assist the injured man, and that there, was nothing further that it was practicable for Blakburn to do. His Honour said that if the jury considered the pedestrian had been negligent in that he did not look about him as he crossed the street this would not excuse the motorist from responsibility. The jury retired at 12.55 p.m. and returned .at 3.7 p.m. with its verdicts. PAHIATUA MAN SENTENCED NINE MONTHS REFORMATIVE DETENTION (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. In the Supreme Court, Percy Hugh Bennets, a road surfacemen, aged 52, of Pahiatua, who pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing bodily injury, was sentenced to nine months’ reformative detention, and disqualified from driving for three years.