MAREO RETRIAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 208, 16 June 1936, Page 5

MAREO RETRIAL

EVIDENCE FOR DEFENCE ENDED.

A DOCTOR GROSS-'EXAMINED.

AMOUNT OF’ 'VE'RONAL IN BODY.

. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The Supreme Court was crowded this morning when evidence for the defence in the retrial of Eric Mareo, for the murder of his wife, Thelma, was concluded with the completion of the cross-examination of Dr. Giesen, of Wellington. “You have contradicted all the evidence of the medical men. Can you quote any literature to support your View P” asked Mr Meredith (Crown Prosecutor). Witness: I don’t know if I can. Mr Meredith: You remember that Mrs Mareo’s weight was given by Miss Freda Stark as just under eight stone? Witness. Yes. Mr Meredith: Does it not follow that there must have been many times six grains of veronal in the whole of the body at death? Witness: All. we know is as to the amount extracted, and we know there must have been more. As to how much more nobody can make any estimate.

Mr Meredith: I put it to you that there must have been many times more.

Witness: I cannot concede that. Mr Meredith: Is there any other medical man who can support you in your propositions? Witness: I don’t know of any.

Re-examined by Mr O’Leary (for the defence), Dr, Giesen said he had been in active practice in Wellington for 30 years. Other medical men still consulted him. For 12 years he was ex—aminer for the University of New Zea—land—for two .years on toxicology and medicat jurisprudence. After several technical questions had been asked by the foreman of the jury, Dr. Giesen left the lbox. The Crown called George Seymour Dennis Sheard, of Mount Eden, who in 1928 was a member of-"the Humphrey Musical Comedy Company. He said that in Adelaide he was the tenor of the show and Thelma Trott, afterwards Mrs Mareo, was soprano. They sang duets. He saw her every day and night for five weeks, and she stayed with his people three or four weeks. “I have no knowledge of her ever taking veronal‘ in that period,” said. witness. “She was not ‘dopey’ or depressed. On the contrary brightness was one of‘ the greatest of her assets. I knew her on tour in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand abouttwo and a half years, and never saw any signs of dopiness which has been re—-fer-red to. Miss Trott not only did her ordinary Show work, but also acted as Humphrey Bishop’s secretary.” Cross-examined by Mr O’Leary, Witness said he realised that Mrs Mareo would be an asset to Mareo.

Re—examined by Mr Meredith, witness said that in View of Miss Trott’s experience with Humphrey Bishop, she would be an asset as secretary. Mr O’L-eary has commenced his address to the jury.