FAMILY KILLED BY GELIGNITE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28413, 21 October 1957, Page 14

FAMILY KILLED BY GELIGNITE

Coroner’s Comment At Inquest (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 19. The District Coroner, Mr W. Cobcroft, sitting at Bcga on the coast 339 miles from Sydney, said yesterday that if a witness in the triple inquest had acted as he should have done, the bomb tragedy would have been averted. “I do not believe the evidence of this witness, Edward Morris Williams, that he thought the whole affair was to be nothing more than a practical joke,” the coroner said. He found that Myron Bertram Kelly, an agricultural contractor, murdered Constable Kenneth Coussens, 31, his wife. Elizabeth, 34, and their eight-months-old son. Bruce. The Coroner said the explosion which wrecked the constable’s house was caused by a six-gallon milk-can filled with gelignite. This was placed on the patio of the house, near the constable’s bedroom, and detonated. ‘‘lt has not been disputed that Kelly bore a strong feeling of animosity towards the constable and that the feeling would be actuated by his hatred for the constable,” the Coroner said. “I am not very satisfied with the evidence given by Williams on what part, if any, he took in the matter, or what knowledge hr had of Kelly’s intention. But hr did admit that Kelly had the can and the explosive, and he did see the bomb, and handle it. in Kelly’s garage. One would have expected Williams to have told the police.” Kelly was committed for trial.