SUPREME COURT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 8, 22 October 1935, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

SESSIONS AT DUNEDIN OPENED.

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, October 21. 'ln opening the criminal sittings Mr Justice Kennedy said the list was not light, including charges ol attempted murder, demanding money by menace, of blackmail, and forgery, breaking, entering and theft. True bills were found in all cases. Walter Leslie Kedzlie, who pleaded guilty to 'breaking and entering at Waikouaiti, and Maurice James Hurling, charged with receiving, were remanded for sentence.

The trial has commenced of John Haig Roebuck, aged 17, on a charge of having attempted to murder Isabel Henderson, at Tapui, on August 11. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr Adams) stated that the case would be based on whether acctised was at the time ot the act suffering from such insanity as to entitle him to acquittal on that ground. Outlining the facts counsel said that on August 10 accused finished work as usual * on Henderson’s farm. After being in his hut for some time accused rose, obtained a knife, entered the house, stealthily crept into the bedroom, and poised the knife above Mrs Henderson, who was in bed, and struck her immediately. When she screamed he dashed back to his hut. Two statements were made by accused. In the first he denied all knowledge of the affair; in the second' he admitted his guilt. •