CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 259, 2 November 1925, Page 7

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

» JAMES BRIDGE ON TRIAL. AN ONEHUNGA FATALITY. James Bridge, a young man, driver of a motor truck, was placed on trial this morning at tlie Supreme Court, before Mr. Justice Reed, on a charge that on August 13, at Onehunga, he did kill Mrs. Mary McKenzie, thereby committing manslaughter. Alternatively, lie was charged with having driven a motor truck in a negligent manner, thereby causing the death of Mrs. McKenzie. Mr. Richmond conducted the defence. Prior to the hearing, the jury was motored to Onehunga. in order to inspect the locality where tlie accident occurred. His Honor accompanied the jury. In his opening address, the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. A". R. Meredith), told tlie jury that deceased received fatal injuries as she was standing in the tramway shelter at the junction of Queen Street and Trafalgar Street. Accused drove his truck down Trafalgar Street, and failed to make the turn into Queen Street, with the result that the truck ran into the tram shelter, striking deceased, her sister-in-law, and a child who was with them. Deceased was pinned against one of the uprights ■at the front of the shelter, and after being taken to the hospital, expired within an hour. Deceased ami. the other two persons had just alighted from a tram, and had gone to tlie shelter in •order to take cover from the rain. Two telegraph linesman would state in evidence that the speed of tbe car attracted their attention before the crash occurred, and one of them called out a warning to the unfortunate people. Another witness would say that he watched tbe course of the truck with nervous interest, while a juveivle witness would say that he saw the truck approaching the corner at a fast rate of nnd that he turned bis bead away rather than see the inevitable crash. "The only possible inference is that accused was driving very much in excess of a. reasonable speed," said the Crown Prosecutor, "and as a eonseouence of that be was unable to take the corner properly. and smashed into these three unfortunate people." There was nothing more to it. and accused resrretted the occurrence more than anyone. Evidence was called in support of the Crown's case, which is proceeding.