Woman To Stand Trial For Manslaughter

Press, Volume C, Issue 29702, 21 December 1961, Page 16

Woman To Stand Trial For Manslaughter

(New Zealand Press Association)

MARTON, Dec. 20. Monika Te Whakaoranga Petersen, a married woman, aged 21, of Marton, was committed for trial at the Palmerston North Supreme Court when she appeared before Mr B. S. Barry, S. M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Marton today charged with the manslaughter of Jane Frances Hare, aged four years and two months. No plea was entered. Depositions were taken from seven prosecution witnesses, including three doctors. a child welfare officer, a clinical photographer and two detectives. The prosecution alleged that Petersen assaulted Jane Frances Hare on December 8, so that she caused her death and thereby committed manslaughter. A statement alleged to have been made by the accused and read in court was suppressed by the Magistrate on the application of defence counsel. The pathologist’s report was also suppressed. Mary Bush, a child welfare officer, produced a birth certificate for Jane Frances Fare. She visited the accused’s home on several occasions, saw the child and gaye favourable reports. On December 11 she went to the mortuary and identified the body of the child. Kenneth Richard Archer, medical superintendent of the Palmerston North Hospital, said that on December 8 he was called to the casualty department to examine Jane Frances Hare The child was unconscious. There was evidence of bruising on the jaw. abdomen, buttock and right leg The child was admitted with a provisional diagnosis of head injuries. An operation was performed, but the child died. Death was due to head injuries with cerebral contusion and subdural hemorrhage. Dr. Garth Holdaway. a medical practitioner, of Marton, said he received a call on December 8. and found the accused and her husband attending a four-year-old child. Janr Hare. The accused told him the child had struck her head aga’nst the bath and was un'■onsciovs. An examination

suggested that the child had suffered severe cerebral lacerations. Detective Senior-Sergeant F. A. Gordon said he interviewed the accused, who said it was her fault. He produced a statement she had made. The witness said the accused handed him a stick She said it was the one used to hit the child. It was a light stick and was in three pieces. The accused gave him two pieces and he found a third piece outside. Detective lan Cooper, said that he arrested the accused and charged her with assault causing actual bodily harm Shortly after the arrest, he was told the child had died The accused was then charged with manslaughter.