RUNANGA GIRL’S DEATH

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26264, 8 November 1950, Page 8

RUNANGA GIRL’S DEATH

Manslaughter Verdict

TRIAL ENDS AT GREYMOUTH Fmnt Out Own Reporter GREYMOUTH. November 7. A verdict o. manslaughter against William Hainey Hillhouse, jun., aged 2Q. a mine trucker, of Runanga, was returned after a retirement of 54 minutes by a jury in the Supreme Court at Greymouih to-day. Hillhouse was charged with the murder of his sister. Margaret Rose Hillhouse. aged 18. a machinist, at their home in Walker street, Runanga, in the early hours of the morning of August 12. The trial began yesterday afternoon before Mr Justice Northcroft, and a jury, and the Court sat for two hours last evening.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr E. B. E. Taylor, of Christchurch, with him Mr C. R. McGinley, of Greymouth. The Crown case was presented by the Crown prosecutor <Mr F. A. Kitcningham). Th? accused, who gave evidence, claimed that the discharge of the .303 rifle was accidental. Hillhouse was remanded for sentence.

When the Court resumed this morning Constable J. Molloy detailed the arrival of Miss Hillhouse at his home early on the morning of August 12, as the result o' which he went to the Hillhouse home at 2.45 a.m.

Witness was just alighting from his car when Mrs Hillhouse, who was coming down the pa:h. made a remark and he heard a rifle report from the direct on of the house. Running towards the house, witness clearly saw the accused and called to him to drop his rifle. The accused did not heed his command, but as the witness was then right on top of him he took the rifle off him. Accused offered no resistance. The witness then left with the accused in the car. called Dr. Wilson at the Runanga surgery, and then travelled to Greymouth. At one time during the trip the accused temporarily broke Rifle Examined Upon arrival at the Greymouth police station at 3.5 a.m.. the accused was searched, and in one of his coat pockets was found a clip containing four live .303 cartridges. Soon after, in the presence of Inspector Kane, the rifle was examined, and on opening the breach a spent .303 shell was ejected. There were still four more live cartridges in the magazine. The safetv catch of the rifle was in the firing position, and the barrel was warm when witness first took it from accused.

Dr. K. J. Wilson detailed his visit to the Hillhouse home, and his examination of the deceased girl. He found a small circular wound underneath the right eye. consistent with a bullet wound. , Dr. S, Barclay gave evidence of the temporary improvement in Miss Hillhouse’s general condition following blood transfusions. She was conscious and able to answer simple questions, he said. The damage to her brain caused by the passage of the bullet was the cause of the girl’s death.

Dr. C. T. B. Pearson, a pathologist, of Christchurch, whd performed the post-mortem, detailed his findings, which included a fracture of the brain consistent with a-bullet wound. Death was due to asphyxia associated with lacerations and contusions of the brain and fracture of the base of the skull. Detective Stewart detailed the unsuccessful attempts to locate the missing bullet near the Hillhouse home, and also gave evidence of the bullet markings on the walls of the home. The witness, in reply to Mr Taylo’, said that a live cartridge had been found near the side of the home some days after the shooting, but it was definitely not there when experts from Burnham made their search. Detective-Sergeant R. J. A. Berry, who was in charge of the police proceedings in the case, gave evidence relating to the depositions taken from Miss Hillhouse at the Grey Hospital on August 12 at 9.30 p.m., when the accused was present with his solicitor.

In answer to the question: “How corne by Y°ur injuries?” Miss Hillhouse had said: “My brother shot me.” Further examined, she had said that the shooting was done at Runansa.

This concluded the Crown’s ’case, anp Mr Taylor, for the defence, said that he proposed to call the evidence of the accused.

Accused’s Evidence The accused, in ev dence, detailed his movements on the afternoon of August 11. He reached the Dunollie nr tel about 10.50 p.m. Witness had several drinks there with several persons.

The witness left the hotel in company with his father, but his father did not come to the car in which he (his father) had earlier sought a rtde h 'me. After riding home in the car to Runanga, the witness had supper at the Wrights’ home.

Witness said he L?came very agitated when his father pushed his mother from the door, and he did not remember clearly what happened. His f ther pushed him down the track, and warned him off the premises. When his mother gave him his rifle, w tness went up the back steps with the intention of putting the rifle in his wardrobe in a back bedroom, and he then intended to go to bed, he szid. He did not know where his f: ther was

Mr Taylor: D d you load your rifle or cock t ? bolt? Witness: No.

Witness added that he had put five cartridges in the magaz ne. He did not bother about the safcty-catch, as the bullets were in the magaz ne. Further examined by counsel, the accused said: “I saw Margaret at the door as I intended to go to bed. 1 was carrying the rifle ii my left hand, with my hand over the bolt, and my right hsnd was hanging loose.” Mr Taylor: Why did you shoot your sister? * Accused: I did not.shoot her. Mr Taylor: Well, how did the gun go off? Accused: I do not knew. It was an accident. Accused said that after the rifle had

uncharged he I rd no recollection of what haopened. H? did not remember seeing Constable Molloy or hearing him speak to him, said accused. It was not for his father to order h ; m away, said accused. It w-s not this, but his father’s attitude in pushing his mother away which nv»de witness excited and annoyed him. , The witness denied levelling his lift? and firing. Mr Kitchingham, Crown Prosecutor: Have you ever told anyone of this version prior to this hearing? Witness: I told my mother at the Greymouth pol’ce station that it was an accident, although I did not explain it to her. After counsel had addressed the lu.w and his Honour had summed up th? jury retired at 4.33 p.m. and returned at 5.27 p.m. with a verdict of guilty of' manslaughter.

His Honour commented: “The verd'.cl is, I think, a proper one”

First Baptist Church.— The first Baptist church in New Zealand was established in Nelson 100 years ago next May. The Minister of the kelson church, the Rev. J. D. .Jensen, told the Assembly of the Baptist Union of New Zealand in Christchurch yesterday that the centennial celebrations of the church would be held from May 19 to 27. The Baptist Union Council will meet in Nelson to mark the centenary.