U.S. Air Force Sergeant Not Guilty Of Murder

Press, Volume C, Issue 29444, 21 February 1961, Page 17

U.S. Air Force Sergeant Not Guilty Of Murder

(NXFut.-Reuter— Copyright)

LONDON, February W. An American Air Force sergeant who said that he awoke to find his hands around the throat of a 20-year-old English girl was found not guilty of murder. A jury of 11 men and one woman took an hour and SO minutes to decide that Staff Sergeant Willis Eugene Boshears was not guilty of the New Year’s night murder of Jean Constable. Sergeant Boshears stood to attention between two court warders as he listened to the foreman's verdiet and heard the Judge (Mr Justice GlynJones) say, “let him be discharged.” Night of Murder A hushed court had heard Sergeant Boshears tell in a low. sometimes almost inaudible voice, of what he said

happened that night while his wife and three young children were away. He told of drinks in publie houses, of how he met Jean Constable and of how he invited her and a young man, David Salt, to his home for company on New Year’a Eve. They drank vodka and lemon. Salt and the girl went into the bedroom. Later Salt left. Sergeant Boshears said that he was “very much” affected by drink. “The next thing I remember is that I felt something pulling at my mouth. “I was not awake but this woke me up and I found I had my hands round her throat.” he said. In his summing up to the jury Mr Justice Glyn-Jones said that if Sergeant Boshears strangled the girl while he was asleep, it was not a voluntary act and he was entitled to be acquitted.