MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

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

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

ACCUSED HELD UNFIT TO PLEAD (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 14 > When Phyllis Clara Norton, aged 23 i came before Mr Justice Callan and a jury 1 to-day, to stand trial on a charge of the i manslaughter of her infant child, the un- - usual duty of deciding the prisoner’s men- • tai ability to plead was cast on the jury. ‘ Counsel for the accused raised the ques- > tion of the woman’s mental capacity tc : plead, and made application for a pro- • nouncement on the point. The Crown re- • presentative, Mr Meredith, asked that a ■ jury be empanelled for the purpose, and i his Honour concurred. I Mr Meredith said the accused had s thrashed her illegitimate child when 11 t was ill, and the child had died. Medical > evidence was given that the accused was i feeble-minded. i His Honour said that even if a deranged i person answered to a plea on a crime, unless there was behind that plea a serious J appreciation of what it meant it would nol } be right for the Crown to take the plea. • Without leaving the box the jury returnee 1 a verdict that the accused was so insane • as to be unable to plead. r The accused was ordered by the Courl • to be kept in strict custody until the s pleasure of the Minister of Justice was 1 known. 1 ' ,