Crown Case Concluded In Murder Trial At Wanganui

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29365, 18 November 1960, Page 19

Crown Case Concluded In Murder Trial At Wanganui

(New Zealand Press Association)

WANGANUI, November 17. He looked around and saw Ras A 59-year-old scrubcutter, Gur- fall. bachan Singh Basi, in the Wanga- The prosecution called the last nui Supreme Court today des- of its 21 witnesses today and the cribed events leading up to the defence case will begin tomorrow, death of Ras Singh at Otiwhiti Dr. Leo Sefton, pathologist at Station, near Hunterville, on Sep- Wanganui Hospital said a head tember 11 last. He was giving wound caused Ras’s death. From evidence in the case in which the appearances of this wound. Balbir Singh, aged 18, a scrub- behind the right ear, he had cutter, is charged with the murder concluded that it had been inof Ras Singh. dieted with the muzzle of the Balbir Singh is represented by ride against the skin. Mr R. Stacey, with him Mr C. Dr. Sefton gave five reasons for Bayliss, Mr N. R. Bain with him this conclusion—The diameter of Mr F. J. Connell, is presenting the entry of the wound was larger and the trial is before the Chief than the diameter of the bullet, Justice (Sir Harold Barrow- there was blackening and hardclough). ening of the skin by the wound Girbachan said he _ saw Balbir which only occurred when the who was on . the hillside bend ride was discharged within only down, lift a ride, and fire a shot, a few inches, the absence of nen-

The prosecution called the last of its 21 witnesses today and the defence case will begin tomorrow. Dr. Leo Sefton, pathologist at Wanganui Hospital said a head wound caused Ras’s death. From the appearances of this wound, behind the right ear, he had concluded that it had been inflicted with the muzzle of the rifle against the skin. Dr. Sefton gave five reasons for this conclusion—The diameter of the entry of the wound was larger than the diameter of the bullet, there was blackening and hardening of the skin by the wound which only occurred when the rifle was discharged within only a few inches, the absence of peppering of the skin with unburnt powder suggested that the rifle had been fired either against the head or from more than three feet away, there was considerable damage inside Ras’s head. This was consistent with the gun being held against the head and there was more superficial blackening below the wound “which I would expect from the placing of the muzzle next to the skin.” Frank Thomson, a detective, said he interviewed Balbir on the night of the shooting.

“I asked the accused if he wished to make a written statement, and he said he would,” said Thomson.

“At that stage I had no knowledge of anyone being killed or wounded. In the course of taking a statement I was informed that Ras had been found dead. I told the accused this, and this was incorporated in the statement, the accused signed the statement.” The statement was produced in Court.