NOLLE PROSEQUI

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 260, 2 November 1932, Page 3

NOLLE PROSEQUI

CONSPIRACY CHARGE SEQUEL. - The sequel to a case that caused considerable interest last August is that the Crown Solicitor has notified Mr. J. •J. Sullivan, solicitor ,for the accused, that a nolle prosequi has been decided upon. The case came on at the Auckland Supreme Court on August 2, when Reginald Clarence Williams was charged with conspiring with another man to defraud a farmer of £1200 in a transaction over an alleged sale of land for glassworks at Ponsonby. There were also counts charging the theft of the money, and of obtaining it by false pretences. The jury found Williams not guilty of the theft of the money, not guilty of false pretences, but guilty of conspiracy. At the trial counsel raised the point that there was no evidence against Williams to go to the jury, and when Williams was brought up for sentence he applied for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal, on the ground that the verdict was against the weight of evidence. He also raised certain legal -points. The judge granted the application, on the ground that the verdict was against the weight of evidence. At the sitting of the Court of Appeal, held on September 24, Mr. Sullivan was successful, and the Court ordered a new trial to take place at the present sessions of the Supreme Court in Auckland. Mr. Sullivan has now received a letter from the Crown Prosecutor stating that a nolle, prosequi would be entered.