Rainbow For Trial On Murder Charge

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 13

Rainbow For Trial On Murder Charge

r.Ncto Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL, May 18. David William Rainbow, aged 17, a freesing worker, was today committed for trial at the August session of the Supreme Court in Invercargill on a charge of the murder of David Samuel Cleaver, aged 19, at Riverton on March 31. The last witness, Senior Detective-Sergeant A. E. Lead Icy, gave evidence today at the Magistrate’s Court hearing of the charge before Mr E. J. S. Crutchlcy, S.M. Detective-Sergeant Leadley said that on the morning of March 31 he went to Riverton with a police party from Invercargill, arriving at Riverton at 2.15 a.m. I saw Rainbow, who was then in a heavy sleep inside the police cell. There was vomit in the cell pan. Rainbow was not woken He collected Rainbow’s father from his home. At the police station he took possession of a carving knife, the blade of which was heavily coated with blood. Rainbow’s father was shown the knife. At 4.40 a.m. Rainbow was taken from the cell and was taken into the office at the police station. He stood quite steadily.

Rainbow then appeared to be sober and was “quite rational." Detective-Sergeant Leadley said he asked Rainbow if he was aware why he was in the police station. Rainbow had replied. Rainbow had then asked a question. He was told “David Cleaver is dead.” He told Rainbow he was being charged with Cleaver’s murder. Rainbow was given the customary warning and was then asked if he had anvthing to say about it. He had nothing to say. At 5 a.m. Rainbow was sent back to Invercargill under police escort. To Mr R. P. H Hewat, for Rainbow, the witness said that Rainbow had just woken up before he was interviewed. He could not say whether Rainbow had been in “a ciecp drunken sleep” just before questioning began. But he had been in a ‘‘heavy sleep.”