Bus Driver Charged With Manslaughter

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30044, 31 January 1963, Page 12

Bus Driver Charged With Manslaughter

(New Zealand Preen Association)

AUCKLAND, January 30.

Five police witnesses were heard when the Lower Court hearing of a charge of manslaughter against Noel Newcombe, aged 34, a bus driver, opened before Mr H. Jenner Wily, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court al Auckland today.

Newcombe is charged with causing the death of Esmond William McCorkindale by an unlawful act.

Mr & L McLaren, for the Crown, said Newcombe was employed as a driver by the Auckland Transport Board.

McCorkindale was a pensioner, aged 67. Evidence would show that Newcombe was sitting in his trolley-bus at the terminus in Wellesley street east at about 6.5 p.m. on November

McCorkindale was sitting on the long seat to the right of the front entrance. He was the last passenger to leave the bus

Mr MacLarep said McCorkindale stood up and was apparently having words with the driver.

McCorkindale was then either side-on to the stairwell or had his back to it

Mr MacLaren said that witnesses would say that they saw Newcombe put an arm on McCorkindale and give

him a light push causing him to fall on his head in the gutter.

A doctor would say that McCorkindale died of his injuries at 11 p.m. next day. Alexander Harvey Olney, an ambulance driver, said McCorkindale smelt ot intoxicating liquor. Thomas Paul, a bus driver, said he boarded Newcombe's bus in Karangahape road. An old man got on and ret beside him. The old man swore “pretty loudly” all the time. He smelt ot liquor. Ngaire Margaret Songster, aged 17, a typist, said she was standing at the bus stop in Wellesley street east when the bus pulled in. She said she saw McCorkindale stand up and prepare to alight. As he wm doing so tiie but driver said something to him and he turned around. McCorkindale had his back to the stairwell. The expression on the driver's face was as though he was angry, said Sangster. She could not bear the conversation. The driver took hold of the old men’s srm. She did not see Newcombe push McCorkindale. The hearing will continue tomorrow.