MURDER CHARGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 259, 2 November 1931, Page 9

MURDER CHARGE.

COATS ON TRIAL

DEATH OF GIRL SYMONS.

CROWN'S ALLEGATIONS

TALK OF BURYING BODY. ;; (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day.r- 'The trial of George Errol Coats, charged with the murder of Phillis Avis Syinons, aged 17, on or about June 26 last, was begun in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr. Justice Blair. Despite rain, a large crowd, including several women, gathered outside the Court, but they were not admitted to the body of the Court until all formalities connected with empanelling the jury had been gone through. The Crown proposes calling 36 witnesses, and the trifffl is expected to last ten-days, or longer. The Crown prosecutor, in opening, said ■that accused was a widower with six children, who were in various orphan-' ?a*es. He first got into touch with the dead girl when he was working on relief works" in Mortimer Terrace, where the [girl's parents lived. Early in March' the ojrl left home and went to live with Coats. It was the Crown's contention !that the girl left home on account of Jier condition, for which it was alleged 'Coats was responsible.

5 Counsel detailed various acts and conversations which had taken place, in regard to the girl's condition, and said ■that accused had told one Avituess, 'Glover, that if Phillis did die she could Easily be buried in a gully at the Hataitai ; relief works, Avhcre Coats was K "Seen Digging a Hole." ; The Crown prosecutor said that later ■Coats had been seen digging a hole at ■Hataitai, and "there-Avill.be no doubt in your minds, • gentlemen, that ■ when Coats Avas digging thftt hole he intended to murder Phyllis and bury her there." I Couusel'rererred to the incident where i : it Avas: alleged that Coats liad hit the ;>irlover the head with a piece of pipe ;kit she had recovered. The Crown coni'tended that Coats made arrangements 'to have a shovel left out at Hataitai on the night of June-25j so that he could kill and bury the girl that night. Unj expected visitors, . prevented him "from carrying out liis plan that night, but on the folloAving night he iand the girl were heard, to leave the house where they were livi/ig. - The ; Crown alleged that the pair walked over ito Hataitai, Avhere Coats hit the girl on Ithe head Avith the shovel several times .and;then buried her.. '.';'■;.■ -..„, c .In answer to inquiries about- the girl," * Coats had said that she had gone home, ibut- the gMjivas not i se,cn again. A: taxi named Melville had found a, letter ffrpjr the'; .: a, α-esult. of his/ it/: oijj'to ;4rher:girFs ■ father,>the -con Coats,jEind, affei , a ecareh' iptuig of the^ covered hj a sack, ftt'hich' sack, • tjie:' C.rpwn Avpuld definitely came .'from the house Avhere iCoats and the girl had lived together. ?,Counsel's .address . .lasted nearly an. shour. ': . ....

eyidbnce- was' given .by Senior jSergeant Dinnie and a Surveyor/ and at •tte luncheon adjournment' the deceased was'in the witness-box.