CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 113, 12 May 1917, Page 4

CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER

A HECKU2SS MOTORIST. SIX MONTHS' IMPRISCCvMEKT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association^ DUNEDDh, thk day. At the Supreme Court W3liaan Later Sriel was charged witi manslaughter in connection with the death of Neil McCuKocSi on February 14. Death resulted from injuries sustained in a collision between accused's motor cycle and McCulloch'3 push bike.

Mr. Hanion, counsel for the defence, said one of the witnesses spoke of accused's speed as higher than IT or 18 miles an hour, whilst one witness put it at six miles. It was absurd, he asserted, to say that a cycle going fifteen mHes was at an excessive speed. Apparently accused endeavoured to pass on the right side, in compliance with law and practice.

The judge, cumrnmg up, said that if there was no collision it was impossible to understand how McCnlloch was knocked off his bicycle. The jury, after 25 minutes' retirement, returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommgiidauion that the accused should be dealt with leniently on account of his youth and tie absence of a sense of responsibility.

Mr. Hanlon 6aid accused was 22 yean old, and had not arrived at lie age when one could fully appreciate responsibility. The Crown Prosectrsor said smce IfcCulloch's death accused had been gmHy of furious driving, by which accused Vm. self was thrown and seriously injured. The poEce agreed not to prosecute in that matter on che understanding- that he would not use the car or cycle till the present case was decided. That undertaking was given, but a few days later accused was seen driving a motor.

The jndge said such recklessness as that prisoner had been guilty of should be put down. He had every desire to give expression to the jury's recommendation, but it was his duty to impcee a reasonable term of imprisonment. 3e would make it as light as he could. Accused was sentenced to six months' fcsrd labour.

A most unusual position as-ose in the Supreme Court on Friday morning when tihe jury were iging empannelled in the case against Young Shiel. The pand became exhausted on account of the number of challenges exercised by couar sel, and then, by direction of the Court, the Registrar ordered all doors to he locked while he called on those in. Court to complete the jury. Six jurors were required, and seveTal well known business men. who were in Court through being witnesses in a previous case, were empanelled.