HELD TO BE INSANE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 181, 2 August 1944, Page 6

HELD TO BE INSANE

WOMAN PRISONER UNWOOD TRAGEDY SEQUEL (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. "There is a very grave doubt," replied the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. A. W. Brown, when asked by Mr. Justice Northcroft in the Supreme Court this- morning whether there was any doubt as to the capacity of Helen Lewis, married woman, aged 34, to plead to a charge of murdering Frederick Albert Brazier, aged 60, at Linwood on June 25.

Counsel for the accused, Mr. R. Twyneham, also submitted that Mrs. Lewis did not have sufficient understanding to plead to the charge. A jury was empanelled to decide the issue. After hearing evidence by doctors the jury agreed without retiring that the prisoner was insane. His Honor ordered that the prisoner be detained in strict custody in the Sunnyside Mental Hospital until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice was known.

"Very Pathetic Picture" "This is a sad case and the circumstances are indeed tragic," said his Honor yesterday in addressing the Grand Jury relative to the case of Mrs. Lewis, before a true bill had been returned. "It will be clear, I believe, that for some time this woman had shown that she was becoming mentally deranged. Allegations had been made by her against the 'old man,' as she referred to Brazier, that he had been trying to poison her child." Mrs. Lewis had, in his Honor's opinion, provided a very pathetic picture of disordered mind. The crime had been committed while she was in a state of insanity, which would doubtless be a ground of defence. "But your concern, gentlemen, is not with matters of defence," 'he continued. "For until insanity is proved the law presumes that she was sane. You are not concerned with any element of insanity, but you must be satisfied that the death of this man was due to this woman's blows. I do not think that on the facts you will have much difficulty in reaching a decision and returning a true bill."