COUSENS TREASON TRIAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 267, 23 August 1946, Page 3

COUSENS TREASON TRIAL

SENSATIONAL TURN TAKEN ACCUSATION AGAINST CROWN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY", August 22. The trial of Major Charles Hughes Cousens for treason took a sensational turn to-day, when Mr J. Shand. K.C., for the defendant. accused the Crown of “a determination to get a conviction at ail hazards.” He produced photostatic copies of a diary by Lieutenant-Comman- * der Henshaw, of the United States Intelligence, detailing experiences in JBunka prison camp, and said the Crown should have called Henshaw as a witness.

When the third day of the trial opened to-day Mr Shand called on the Crown to produce the dossiers concerned with everyone connected with Tokio Radio station which lie said Cousens had given the American authorities.

When Mr W. R. Dovey, for the Crown, promised he would have inquiries made, Mr Shand resumed his cross-examination ol the witness, Foumi Saisho.

Within the first hour, Mr Dovey objected several times to the way Mr Shand was framing his questions. When Mr Shand asked several questions lie referred to a pile of photostats before him. He explained that the photostats were part of the diary by Henshaw, who could be brought from America in a day. Mr Shand said that Mr Dovey, m his opening address, had stated that -the Crown did not have any evidence that Cousens had done anything under duress. The dairy was proof to the contrary. “If the Crown authorities have not read the document, each and everyone has failed deplorably in their duty to the country,” Mr Shand declared. “It is not difficult for the Government to bring the witness here. It can only be that there is a determination at all costs to get a conviction.” The Magistrate: Mr Shand, I think that remark ill becomes you.

Mr R. Chambers, who appears with Mr Dovey. for the Crown, said the Crown had no knowledge of what was in the diary. Another copy of the diary was being perused by detectives, who would pass on anything relative to Cousens. When Mr Dovey opened he had no idea of what was in the diary, Mr Shand then withdrew his remarks and resumed his cross-examin-ation.