MURDER CHARGES

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 104, 4 May 1936, Page 9

MURDER CHARGES

TWO AT DUNEDIN. YOUNG MEN FOR TRIAL JUDGE OUTLINES FACTS. (By Telegraph.--"-Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. "The criminal calendar for this session discloses two charges of murder," said Mr. Justice Kennedy in addressing the grand jury at the opening of the criminal session at the Supreme Court this morning. A young man, Stanley Davidson, was charged with murdering his mother and father, while a farmer, Hugh Neil Givnn, was charged with murdering a neighbour. In the first case, said the judge, the accused was living with his parents in a Dunedin suburb. On the morning of the fatal occurrence the rest of the family had gone out, and there remained at home accused, his mother and his father. A neighbour saw a young man striking an elderly man at the back door and a woman rushing away screaming. Later the dead bodies of accused's parents were found at the back of the house, mutilated with an axe, and accused's clothes were spattered with blood. The grand jury was not concerned with any possible defence of insanity. The charge of murder against a young man in the country arose in different circumstances. There had been considerable contention between two farmers and their households in regard to a dispute as to boundary fences. A member of one of the families was taking a horse and cart through land in the occupation of other farmers, and was stopped by a person driving a cart. He went away and came back with two brothers. It might be shown the farmer was endeavouring to prevent the horse going through the gate, and that one of the young men struck the farmer a blow with a strong manuka stick, fracturing his skull.

The other charges 011 the calendar were one of sheep stealing and one of breaking, entering and theft. „

Lewis Daniel Ferris, who appeared for sentence for unlawful carnal knowledge, was admitted to 12 months' probation.