MURDER CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 December 1940, Page 6

MURDER CHARGE

WOMAN BEFORE COURT IN WELLINGTON DEATH OF WATERSIDER IN NOVEMBER. EVIDENCE OF NEIGHBOUR. (By Telegraph—Pi-ess Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Jean Laurentine, aged 31. was charged in the Magistrate’s Court with the murder of her husband, Francis Norman Laurentine, a watersider aged 37, by stabbing him. On November 2, he was taken at about 7.30 p.m. from the flat they occupied in Willis Street, suffering from knife wounds, and died in hospital at 8.50 p.m. Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., was on the bench. The acting Crown Prosecutor, Mr W. R. Birks, conducted the prosecution and Dr. Mazengarb and Mr N. T. Gillespie appeared for the defence. Photos and plans were produced by Senior-Sergeant Dinnie, the fingerprint expert and photographer in charge of the Criminal Registration Branch. Hira Rob Roy Avery, who was occupying the adjoining flat, said that the Laurentines came home between 7 and 7.15 o’clock, both very much under the influence of liquor. He paid Laurentine his rent and returned to his flat, when he heard from the Laurentines’ flat “a proper argument” between Laurentine and his wife and turned up his wireless, but could still hear voices. After seven or eight minutes, Mrs Laurentine came to his door and said: “Quick, Mr Avery, get a doctor. I’ve stabbed Laurie.” Witness went immediately to the Laurentines’ kitchen and found Laurentine half lying or sitting in a corner. There was blood on the floor. He went to get assistance and stopped a passing ambulance, which came to the house. Mrs Laurentine was still in the kitchen. She asked where the doctor was and “was in a very hysterical state of mind.” She was very much under the influence of liquor. The ambulance driver asked how it happened and she replied: “There was a fight. He hit me and I stabbed him.” She turned to witness and said: “You know I would not do it deliberately, Mr Avery.” She went in the ambulance with her husband. In cross-examination, witness said he had known the couple for about 15 months. She was most devoted to her husband ana he was fond of her. He was somewhat addicted to liquor and used to have drinking bouts, after which he got very ill and she would nurse. him back to health. They had been to the races at Hutt Park on November 2.