WARNING TO JURY
Evidence By Children
Dennis Manson Wren, aged 34, unemployed (Mr B. J. Drake) was acquitted by a Supreme Court jury yesterday of a charge of obscene exposure in a public place. The complainant was a 13-year-old girl whose evidence was that she had seen Wren commit the alleged offence in a car while she and a friend were on their way home from school. Mr Justice Macarthur warned the jury against convicting an accused person in a case of this kind on the uncorroborated evidence of one person, but added that it was competent to do so if it saw fit.
His Honour said there were two pieces of evidence, however, which the jury might consider corroborated the complainant’s evidence.
The first was evidence by the friend of the complainant who described her reaction and appearance immediately after the alleged incident.
“But I would again remind you of the necessity for scrutinising the evidence of young persons with the greatest care,” said his Honour.
The second piece of evidence was that of the mother of the complainant who described the girl’s condition very shortly after the alleged incident.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume C, Issue 29662, 4 November 1961, Page 14
Word Count
191WARNING TO JURY Press, Volume C, Issue 29662, 4 November 1961, Page 14
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