Seaman On Trial On Murder Charge

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28823, 18 February 1959, Page 19

Seaman On Trial On Murder Charge

(New SeetaM l*re.. AssocaMeai

. AUCKLAND, Feb. IT. The crown eontoaflofl that the aeeased. BeaaM WUUMfai waa not JwrtM.S ta on* way in applying violeneo to Itelio Munro, aged SB. an mirtsnt pantryman in the Monewal, on November. 4, aaM Mr Speight in the Supreme Cotat aV Auckland today in htai opening afldreoe al the trial of WUllaaa. a British seaman, aged SS, who is charged with the murder of Munro. The trial is expected to end on Thursday, and is before Mr Justice Boys and a Jury. It is expected the Crown will call about 20 witnesses. Williams is represented by Mr Davison and Mr Ryan, and Mr Meredith is appearing with Mr Speight Mr Speight said the facta of the ease were quite simple. He said evidence would be given that Williams was engaged to a young woman employed as a waitress at the Ambassadors' Hotel. She had a girl friend who was an acquaintance of Munro.

it would be alleged that about a week before the tragedy Mias Barber, the girl friend, and Munro went to a hotel for a few drinks and then returned to the Ambassadors' Hotel.

Ambassadors' Hotel. While the girl friend was on duty Munro went to Miss Barber’s room with her permission, and a small quantity of liquor was consumed. Later Munro tried to make advances to Miss Barber, which she repulsed, and Munro left. At that time, said Mr Speight. Williams was at sea in the.Kaitangata. and when he returned Miss Barber told him of the incident in the hotel. , Visit to Monowai “Accused must have been brooding ’ about this,” counsel continued, “because when the ’ Monowai returned to port on ' November 4 he went to see his < brother, who also serves in the ’ Monowai. to And out who Munro was." Mr Speight said It was alleged that on November 4 Williams went on board the Monowai and 1 went to a pantry where he in- ' quired for Munro. Munro and ■ another man, Robinson, were : having a meal, and Williams started an argument with Munro , and the other man left “At the same time. there was ' another man in the pantry, a refrigeration engineer named ' Faulkner,” continued Mr Speight, ; “He says that he saw the two 1 men together and that a fight had Just started when he first ' noticed them. At that time, Faulkner say», the accused was attacking Munro, and Munro was on the defensive. “After some blows had been struck by Williams, he then picked up some crockery which was on a table, and threw this at Munro. 1 Munro kept moving backwards towards. where Faulkner was 1 standing. That next thing that carving knife off the table and. ' moving into Munro, strike him in , the centre of the body. The knife . entered the stomach Just below , the ribs. , “Munro staggered away, and i some other men-came to his assist.

•nee. He was led upstairs and medical aid summoned, but ha had- suffered a fatal injury, and quickly succumbed." Mr Speight said that almost Immediately after that WiUtama was seen to threw the knife out of •■ porthole, and it was subsequently recovered by a Alvar. Williams was subsequently seen on the wharf by his brother, end he told his brother that he hag blacked out ”

Apparently after calling at the Ambassador's Hotel, Williams returned to his ship at Chelsea, continued Mr Speight He broke into the ship’s medicine eheat took a poison bottle and swallowed some of the content*. He then jumped overboard, presumably attempting to commit suleide.

He then climbed out of the water, returned to hie ship, and he locked himself in Ms cobin. where he was found by a party of detectives about 10 pun. When they heard he had taken poison he was taken to the North Shore Hospital. Mr Speight proceeded to call evidence. The trial will be continued tomorrow.