Not Guilty Of Murder On Ground Of Insanity

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30061, 20 February 1963, Page 14

Not Guilty Of Murder On Ground Of Insanity

(New Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH, February 19.

A verdict of not guilty of murder on the ground of insanity was returned by a jury in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North this afternoon. Mr Justice Haslam ordered that the accused, lan Harold Reid Johnston, aged 43, a workman, be detained in strict custody in the Oakley Hospital, Auckland, until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice is known.

Hie jury returned for a direction from his Honour after a retirement of one hour 20 minutes, then returned their verdict five minutes later.

Throughout the two-day trial and as the verdict was announced, Johnston showed no sign of emotion. Mr W. S. Alcock represented Johnston and the Crown case was conducted by Mr J. A. Ongley. Johnston was alleged to have murdered Raymond King, aged 18, a power board employee, at Alfredton, about 12 miles from Eketahuna, on December 23 last year.

Only two defence witnesses, both doctors, were called. Both said Johnston was a paranoid schizophrenic. Dr. John Upham Williams, superintendent of the Ngawhatu and Braemar Hospitals at Nelson said he had practised psychiatry for 40 years. He examined Johnston at Mount Crawford prison on January 30 and on February 14. The superintendent and the deputy-superintendent of the prison had said that

Johnston was moody and of an unusual type. Dr. Williams said that in his opinion Johnston appeared more interested in the fact that he was clean and was wearing a suit than in the outcome of the serious charge. Dr. Williams added that during the interview at Mount Crawford Johnston described the shooting of Raymond King. Johnston said King was

disinterested as he, Johnston, loaded the pistol and proceeded to shoot him. Mr Ongley: I put it to you, he was capable off knowing that it was a crime of murder. “I doubt it art the time, but larter on reflection, he would have decided he had committed murder,” Dr. Williams said. Dr. Thomas Edwin Hall, senior medical officer at Porirua Hospital, said that he agreed with the evidence by Dr. Williams.