MURDER CHARGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 17, 31 October 1940, Page 3

MURDER CHARGE

FATALITY AT MANANUI.

GROWN CASE OPENED. (Per Press Association). TAUMARUNUI, October 30. Charles Harold Longley, aged 3.9, a labourer, appeared this afternoon before Messrs W. Thomas and W. A. Campbell, J.P.’s, charged with the murder of Jeremiah O’Sullivan, aged 52, a small fanner, on the afternoon of Sunday, September 22, at Manama. O’Sullivan occupied the borough racecourse property and deceased was given notice to quit by the Borough Council. In turn he gave notice to the accused, who occupied a house owned by the deceased. During a dispute at the back of accused’s house concerning occupancy of the house the fatality occurred. Mr H. T. Gillies, Crown Prosecutor, Hamilton, appeared for the Crown, and Mr W. J- King and Mr D. H. Hall for the accused.

Mr King applied for the suppression of publication of the lower Court proceeding, hut the Bench refused the application. Dr. A. B. Sturtevant gave evidence that O’Sullivan died from a wound causing laceration of the brain. Witness saw accused a few minutes after the shooting, when he was in a state of collapse. Later Longley wakened as if he had been asleep and asked “Where am I?” Longley had been a patient of his for four years and had been in hospital in August, 1939. Accused complained of internal pains and witness considered his complaint neuiotic. Senior-Sergeant Kelly, arms expert, gave evidence that the trigger pull of the rifle was 31b. Impressions of tests corresponded with the impression on the fatality shell. The rifle was in good mechanical condition. Constable Edwards stated that he had found the accused in a very nervous condition. Accused said: I did not know it was loaded. I only intended to frighten him.” On the way to the police station accused said:: He called her (accused’s wife) a mongrel.” Accused also said that he must have left the rifle loaded after shooting blackbirds on the' previous day. At this stage the Court adjourned till to-morrow, when eight more witnesses will be examined.