Supreme Court MAN FOUND UNFIT TO PLEAD

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28450, 3 December 1957, Page 20

Supreme Court MAN FOUND UNFIT TO PLEAD

Indecent Assault Charge A man was found by a jury to be mentally unfit to face trial when he appeared in the Christchurch Supreme Court yesterday on charges of indecently assaulting a female and false pretences. The man, Alfred Lewis, aged 60, was ordered to be detained in custody pending the decision of the Minister of Justice. Mr Justice K. M. Gresson was on the Bench. After jurors had been called in' the morning the Crown Prosecutor, •Mr P T. Mahon) sought an ad-l journment until the afternoon so' that inquiries could be made into' the mental health of the accused. When the Court resumed a jury was empanelled to hear medical' evidence and decide on the mental fitness of the accused to plead to' the indictment. Dr. F. O. Bennett, a specialist! in the treatment and diagnosis of mental disorders, said that he had examined Lewis that day and found him to be suffering from t paranoia. The accused in his opinion was not capable of under-| standing the proceedings against him. This evidence was corroborated by Dr. N. F. Boag. The jury had a task that juries were seldom asked to undertake, said his Honour. Jurors had to make an assessment of the state of a man’s mind. On the evidence there appeared to be only one answer. Jurors conferred in the box and the verdict was given after about two minutes.