DRIVER ON TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 102, 3 May 1939, Page 6

DRIVER ON TRIAL.

INTOXICATION CHARGE! DOUBLE FATALITY SEQUEL.; CASE FOR THE CROWN. j (By Telegrapn.—Press Association.) nrXKDIX,' Tuosday. The trial of Y-.ihiim Alexander Tait, acred 29. lorry iliiviM", of Oamaru. on | three cliarjrc* ari-inj: out of an accident on the ni-ht r>f April 1.5, when a ynun.Ef conj'le, Neil Harri- i and \'m-,i Jcs<iu Tlioniroii, were killed I on DiikoV I,'iwil. near Minsfriel, was j i-omnu'iK-i'd In , fiirt! ■ Mr. .lusiii-i' ISlitir j and a jury in the Suprciiip Court at • I'liiM'din to-day. The Crown Pn)socuti>r. j Mr. I". 15. Adi'iins. .nnducted the |inisf- j i-uiimi. and ui-cus'ml Wild rcjircscnled !• v , Mr. J. (;. Warrinirtoii. ! Tin , i-harycs a.L'ain>t accused wore "f ncjri diniiiu and oau-injr death; : of inioxicatcil wliilo in cliarjre of ,si motor enr and canshisi death; and that, haviiiir hoon involved in an accident. ic /ailed to a«rc>rtaln what persons )ia<l j lei'n injured and to render all practicable us* if' ta noc. Of kind, the ense was serious and ratlwr sliookinfr, phiil ~SU\ Adams. The '■■ day after the yoiili'i couple were killed as a result of a collision with a truck driven by a<-cu-ed. f'u- latter denied all knowledge of tlie ix-eiirrenei': but, lat«-r. when confronted with a t-iatement made by ;i man who was with him at 1 lie lime, he admitted that he hud been invtdvi'il in an aoeident, although lie lliouvrlit that only one person, a man, had been killed. Alleged Admission.^ Mr. Adams read a statement in which accused admitted havin™ had six .ulassea of beer that eveninji, .some before tea and fume afterward. I'oiuiael said the I'vidiMicu ot a'-ijiii-cd'a compauiou, -McKi'rrow, a :;• c-i. in! that he havhad mure, i lie down contended, in any ease, that lie had had sufficient liquor lo impair hi.s driving ability, 'J'lie case for tlie Crown, Mr. Adams sa'!, was that the accident between the truck driven by accused and the motor cycle ridden by the deceased Harris. *U!l .Miss Thomson as a pillion ]ia.s.-en .er. oi-eurri'u hard over rin the motor r\ diet's .-ide of the road, tliUis jiro% idiny yiounds for the charge of ni-jiligenrp. After the accident, counsel added, accusL'il i-toppcd and came back, and. liy li.jiitiiiLr a few matches, he saw the body ot the man; but all he needed 1o do was to hack the truck far enough for his headlights to show the whole scene and enable him to that two people had been struck. For about two hours after the accident he drove about the road.s between Mo.-yiel and Outrain without reporting the matter to tha police or securing a doctor, and then lost himself, which might be an indication of hin condition. Evidence was given similar to that •.'iven at the Police Court hearing lat-t •week, and the Crown rase had not linishfd "when the Court rose for the day.