MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22767, 20 July 1939, Page 7

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

TRIAL BEGINS AT AUCKLAND EVIDENCE FOR CROWN (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, July 19. In the Supreme Court to-day, a labourer, William Pera Paki, aged 26, was charged, before Mr Justice Fair and a jury, that he attempted to murder his son, aged four, and that he committed the manslaughter ot Mrs Annie Evelyn Marsh, at Okaihau, North Auckland, on June 16. Minor counts against the accused included charges of reckless driving and causing actual bodily harm to the boy. Paki pleaded not guilty and was defended by Mr W. Noble. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr V. K. Meredith) outlined -the evidence to be called to show that Paki, who was separated from his wife, called to see her at a boardinghouse where she worked on the afternoon of June 16 and had words with her. He was seen to leave with his young son and drive off furiously in another man’s motorcar. It would be shown that Paki drove at a terrific pace back and forth several times between the townships of Okaihau and Horeke. Eventually the car struck a stationary car which Mr Marsh had been driving, and had brought to a standstill. Mrs Marsh later died from the injuries received in the accident. Injuries to Boy The car driven by Paki was stopped 300 yards away and Paki was seen swinging the boy up and down, at the same time holding him by the ankles, causing the impression that the child’s head was being hit on the road. This was seen by persons on a nearby golf course. Then the boy was thrown down and Paki made off. He was later seen with a gash in his throat and was attended to. Meanwhile, a sister of Mrs Paki had received a telephone call, and the voice, which she recognised as Paki’s, said: “I’ve done it at last.” When asked what, he replied: “I have gone mad.” Asked if he had hurt the boy Bill, he said he did not know. Mr Meredith said it would be shown that after Paki left the car after the accident, the boy was found unconscious on the floor of the car, so critically injured that he did not recover consciousness for five or six days after the collision. A razor was recovered from Paki. Counsel said Paki had pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted suicide. Medical Evidence Richard B. Marsh, of Okaihau, whose wife was killed in the accident, said he did not think Paki would have any reason for attempting to kill her. Dr. G. J. Frengley, superintendent oi the Bay of. Islands Hospital, said he had not noticed any mental abnormality in Paki, and when he first examined him he could not detect any sign of liquor. ■* Several witnesses spoke of the very high speed of the car, and some said it seemed to strike a ridge and leap in the air. A surfaceman, Harry Jordan, said that after Paki had cut his throat he told witness that he had had wine that morning, and it went to his head. He had not meant to strike Mrs Marsh’s car. Some witnesses said Paki appeared to try to avoid Mrs Marsh’s car. About 20 witnesses had been heard for the Crown when the Court adjourned until to-morrow.