MERRETT TRIAL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18917, 4 February 1927, Page 11

MERRETT TRIAL.

DYING MOTHER'S STATEMENT. (Bt CABlt—rWtSS AMOeUTIM-COMWOtt.) (iOSTKALIiH IHD K.Xf CABLt 4SBOCUTIOS.) (Received February 3rd, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 2. At the Merrett trial, Dr. Holcombe gave evidence that deceased, after admission to the Infirmary, said: "1 was sitting writing letters. John was standing beside me. I said, "Go away, don't annoy me.' Next I heard an explosion, and do not remember any Dr. Holcombe admitted that ho did not write the statement down. Mr Aitcbeson (defending counsel): Arc we at the mercy of your recollections ten months after the event?

Dr. Holeombe: Yen. Holeombe pave evidence tbat Mn Merrett wu shot behind the ear, there being no si«n of blackening or singeing. Mrs Penn. the dead woman'* sitter, said Mm Merrett married in New Zealand in 1907. Her hashand was an olectriral engineer. They separated hefore the war. and the mother and son returned to Enilnnd in 1925. The son attended Malvern College for a year. The mother's yearly income was £7CO. fthp said Merrett was now Jiving in India. Witness added. "My siste r told me, 'Thev spt T had n fall, hut I doubt it.' It was a sudden explosion, «* if John shot me.* " The hearing was adjourned.

[John Donald Merrett, aped 19, was arrested in December on charpea of murdering his mother, Mrs Bertha Merrett, and forging her name to rhefmes. The Merretts were formerlv Kew Zealand residents.]