Supreme Court DIRECTOR’S TRIAL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29695, 13 December 1961, Page 10

Supreme Court DIRECTOR’S TRIAL

Guilty on Three Of 25 Counts After a retirement of Bhr 47man—from B.® pm. on Monday to 4.52 am. yesterday—a jury in the Supreme Court found Robert Lester Syme, aged 46, formerly mar.agingdirector of Truck Spares, Ltd. (now in liquidation), guilty on two counts of forgery and one of theft of £3lO IBs Id by fading to account. The trial, which was before Mr Justice Richmond, continued for five days. The jury returned verdicts of not guilty on &ve changes which it was required to decide —two of theft, and three of theft by failing to account. When ■the trial opened on the final day his Honour directed the jury to acquit the accused on 17 other charges. His Honour thanked the jury for its careful consideration of the case, and discharged jurors from further service for three years. The accused had pleaded not guilty lasit week to 25 charges of theft, false .pretences. theft by failing to account, and forgery. The charges related to dealings with trucks or with conditional purchase agreements with the Radio and Domestic Finance Company. On the three charges on which he was found guilty, and on a further charge of assaulting a detective with intent to prevent arrest, the accused was remanded in custody to December 15 for sentence. He pleaded guilty to the latter charge when the trial opened.