Crown Case In Murder Trial

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29746, 13 February 1962, Page 14

Crown Case In Murder Trial

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON/Feb. 12. Evidence for the proaecntion was given this afternoon at the trial, being heard before Mr Justice Spratt and a jury in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, in which Patrick William Smith, aged 27, a linesman, of Hamilton, is charged with the murder of Heather Lilian Griffiths, aged 17. a telephonist, at Tokoroa, on December 30.

Mr K. L. Sandford, with him Mr D. W. McMullin appeared for the Crown. Mr A. P. Williams represented the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Describing the circumstances leading to the charge Mr Sandford said the Crown alleged that about 7 a.m. on December 30 a girl named Heather Griffiths, was killed by a rifle fired by accused. There would be evidence that the accused and the girl had been going steadily together for 18 months, but in October, the steady association was finished. There might have been telephone calls between them and occasional meetings after that time.

Mr Sandford said on November 23 the accused bought a .303 rifle at Tokoroa. The firearm had been shortened and was known as a jungle carbine. Heather Griffiths was a telephonist, who lived with her parents in Baird road. Tokoroa. She was employed at the Tokoroa Telephone Exchange. A Hamilton pathologist, Dr. L. L. Treadgold. said he performed a post-mortem examination on the body of Heather Lilian Griffiths on December 31. There was a small circular wound on the front of the chest. The sixth seventh and eighth ribs were fractured. Witness said that he was unable to find any bullet in the body. There was a ragged wound on the left back. The cause of death was a gunshot wound of the left upper abdomen involving the liver, stomach, spleen and diaphram. There were no powder marks on the body or on the clothes. One bullet would have caused the wounds, he said.

Flora Kathleen Griffiths, a

married woman, of Tokoroa. said in evidence that the deceased was 17 on December 21 last. Accused had known her daughter for two years and had been going out with her for 18 months. Smith was then a linesman living at Tokoroa. Her daughter had found someone else she preferred and she and Smith ceased going out together three months before her death. Accused had not since called at witness's house.

Heather left for work at 8.50 am. by bicycle on December 30. The accused had a Morris car in which Smith and Heather had gone out together. The bicycle and footwear produced were Heather’s.

To Mr Williams: During the time Smith and Heather were keeping company she did not object to Smith coming to the house. He was well-mannered and respectful, and he had always acted properly. He was not a spendthrift, gambler. or drinker.

Witness would not say she had persuaded her daughter to terminate her association with Smith, who left Tokoroa in November last. She did not think Heather was keener on Smith than witness realised. Witness gave no reason for Smith to think that she was opposed to the association, although she did not think it would be a suitable match. Athol John Mischewski, a welder, gave evidence that just before 7 a.m. on December 30 he saw Heather Griffiths cycling to work. When he returned along Campbell road about 20 minutes later he noticed a bicycle lying on the side of the road. The case will continue tomorrow.