DEATH PACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 9

DEATH PACT.

Police Trainees Who Were

Dismissed. CORONER FINDS MURDER. MELBOURNE, December 27. An extraordinary story of a death pact between two police trainees was told to the coroner at an inquiry into the death by shooting of George Thomas Viekers, aged 24, whose body was found near Albert Park Lake on December 24.

Laehlan McLachlan, who was with Viekers, and was discharged from the Victorian Police Force on December 21, allegedly, made a statement which was read to-day. He declared that he and Viekers were dismissed following an incident with a girl's motor car. A third man was with them when McLachlan and Viekers decided that in the event of their dismissal they two would commit suicide.

McLachlan's statement continued: "We bought a revolver and tossed a coin to see who should have the first shot. Viekers said, 'It's hard to do it, but there is nothing else for it.' VTe both shook hands and lay down on the grass. Viekers shot himself in the temple. I heard him breathing, and decided to go for an ambulance."

A letter found on Viekers indicated his intention to commit suicide owing to the disgrace of being discharged from the police force.

The coroner committed McLachlan for trial on a charge of murder, finding that he had aided and abetted Viekers.