Bradley Loses Appeal

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 15

Bradley Loses Appeal

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, May 22.

Stephen Leslie Bradley lost his appeal today against his conviction for the murder of the eight-year-old schoolboy, Graeme Thorne.

The New South Wales Chief Justice, Mr Justice Evatt, said the crime was so brutal and cruel as to be beyond human

experience and belie

He said it was difficult to think such a thing could happen Graeme Thorne, after being kidnapped, was left m the boot of a car it unspeakably cruel circumstances.

Mr Justice Evatt said Bradley committed a double crime of kidnapping and murder amounting to great terror and horror. The summing-up by the Judge at Bradley’s trial (which was challenged by Bradley s counsel. Mr F. W Vizzard. Q C.) was completely justified There was no reason whatsoever to interfere wi‘h the murder conviction The other two judges on the bench of the full Courof Criminal Appeal aarced with this They were Mr Justice Herron and Mr Just ee Collins Delivering the Court’s decision, Mr Justice Evatt said the Crown had pointed to corroborative evidence showing the fate which had overtaken a young and finelooking boy The question of identificatian had been dealt with in great detail It had been proved hevond the slightest doubt that the boy was abduc’ed and murdered on Ju’v 7

His body was found on August 16 on vacant land close to a place Bradley and b's family had occupied a‘ Seaforth, a northern suburb Mr Justice Evatt said the Crown case had been built up with great patience and detail The work of the Crown prosecutor, Mr W J Knight, QC.. his colleague and the police, had been completely exemplary in a ease of ‘his type Mr Justice Evatt then deal’ wi‘h the scarf and rug found with the boy’s body Bradley had said it was his scarf and also had identified the rug. which was "one of the d-eadful instruments with which this offence was cmm't'ed ’’

While being extradited to Sydney. Bradley had told police: “I have done this thing to the Thorne boy—what will happen to me?" Up till then, there had beer, a denial that Bradley had anv part in the abduction

Mr Justice Evatt said the boy could have expected t n be safe in any civilised country from the fate which overtook him What Bradley

had told police was the clearest possible admission that he was responsible for the child’s death. Bradley was warned by police that he was not obliged to say anything There was no suggestion of

"napping anything out of him.’’

Mr Justice Evatt then dealt with evidence that Bradley telephoned the Thome home saying he would feed the boy to the sharks if he were not paid £25 000 The Thornes, the Judge said, had won first prize in ’he cpera hoti-'e lottery, and Bradley had been out to ge’ money from the prize bv ‘'hook o- by crook ”

A crime comprising not only abduction and kidnapping. but finally murder, was a tremendous one Everything had been done according to law and with grea’ energy and patience, he said There was no real evidence at all that justice had miscarr’ed After the Court’s decision was announced. Bradley’s counsel. Mr Vizzard. said he had not had time to consider whe’ber be would appeal to ♦he Hiah Court.

CHINA AND U.N.

“U.S. Losing Support”

IN Z Press Assn. —Copyright) WASHINGTON. May 22. The United States Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs. Mr Foy Kohler, has predicted a “considerable loss of European support’’ for the United States position against discussing the admission of Communist China to the United Nations at the General Assembly in September.

But if the moratorium was set aside and the question itself came to a vote, he said. "I do not think I could foretell at this time what the positions will be.” Mr Kohler testified m recent closed-door hearings of the House of Representative Appropriations Committee. A censored version of the transcript was made public by lhe committee last night.