COURT-MARTIAL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23746, 18 September 1942, Page 7

COURT-MARTIAL

« CHARGE AGAINST GUNNER Colonel H. C. Hurst, C.8.E., D.5.0., 3rd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, presided at a court-martial held yesterday, when Gunner John Michael McGurrin, of the 11th Heavy Regiment, was charged with using insubordinate and threatening language to his superior officer, and disobeying a lawful command given to him by his superior officer. A plea of not guilty was entered. Four witnesses were called for the prosecution, and the defendant called one witness, besides giving evidence on his own behalf. The court sat for about four hours. Members of the court were Major J. F. Kneale and Lieutenant M. S. Purser. Second-Lieutenant S. G.' Cook, 81st Heavy Battery, prosecuted, and the defending officer was Lieutenant H. Edgar, sth Battalion, Canterbury Regiment. The judge-advocate was Major G. T. Weston. Lieutenant C. E. Mains said that on August 28, when a leave parade was being taken in the forenoon, McGurrin, who had just returned to the camp, began to use abusive language about the stopping of four hours of his leave, and on being checked he persisted and was marched to the orderly room and told that he would be charged with a breach of the camp orders. In the afternoon, he was charged with a breach of the camp orders and was ordered to forfeit a day’s leave. The witness stated that as McGurrin was leaving the ordeny room he again used abusive language and was brought back to the orderly room and placed under close arrest. As he was marched out of the orderly room a second time he ailed the witness a certain name and threatened him. Witness said that he did not consider McGurrin was drunk in the morning when he was in the orderly room. He saw the accused strike a sergeantmajor during a scuffle outside the room. Sergeant-Major B. J. Heslim gave evidence that .accused refused to fall in with the escort when ordered to do so. He had been rushed at and struck by the accused. McGurrin gave evidence that he had been drinking heavily during the morning, and was very unsteady when he returned to the camp. He remembered being taken to the orderly room, but could not remember what happened after that. The witness called for the defence stated that McGurrin had been drifting heavily during the morning, and although he did not need assistance at the camp from the taxi which was obtained for him, he considered he was intoxicated, his gait being unsteady and his speech not normal. The taxi was paid for by the witness and a third soldier. After hearing the evidence, the court adjourned, the decision not being announced. _____________