SUPREME COURT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24801, 15 February 1946, Page 7

SUPREME COURT

< . NEW TRIAL ORDERED ALLEGED FAILURE TQ STOP AFTER ACCIDENT After a retirement lasting from 11.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. yesterday, the jury in the Supreme Court returned and stated that no agreement could be reached in the trial of Leonard Anthony Scliimanski (Mr E. S. Bowie), who appeared before the Chief Justice (the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers) on a charge of failing to stop after an accident to ascertain if he had injured anyone. His Honour discharged the jury and ordered a new trial. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr A. T. Donnelly) said the accident had occurred on October 22 in Cathedral square. A taxi driven by Charley John Brown had come into the Square from High street, and at the corner outside the. Post Office Was struck from behind by a motor-car driven by the accused. There was not much damage done, but the had driven on. A traffic inspector and Brown had chased the accused’s motor-car/ around the Square into Colombo street and through Victoria, Salisbury, Peterborough and Durham streets. When they overtook Schimanski’s vehicle the inspector called on the accused to stop. His explanation for the accident was that his foot had slipped to the accelerator from the brake. Mr Bowie submitted that the accused had stopped, as he had to reverse to clear the taxi. The taxi-driver had got out of his vehicle, so the accused knew that no one had been injured. The case was not a serious one of its kind, but it Was important that motorists should know and abide by their obligations, said his Honour. '