A FALSE REPORT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30234, 12 September 1963, Page 11

A FALSE REPORT

Clark Not Charged

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter — Copyright) MILAN, September 10. Dr. Enrico Setajolo, the

Monza police commissioner, today said the world champion driver,

Jim Clark, “has not been charged with anything.” A news agency report had claimed that Clark had been officially charged with manslaughter over the 1961 Monza race crash, in which the German driver, Wolfgang von Trips, and 18 spectators were killed.

The inquiry by an investigating magistrate, which under Italian procedure is held to ascertain whether legal proceedings should be brought, is still going on. The police commissioner said:

“Clark is not charged with anything. Only at the close of his inquiry does the investigating magistrate, on the basis of the testimonies and interrogations made, determine whether any blame might be attributed ’to Clark.”

The commissioner, speaking on the telephone, added that Clark “can thus freely return to Italy .and go away again.” The fact that he left Italy yesterday in a private aeroplane—after being asked to see the investigating magistrate, “has absolutely nothing illegal about it.” The commissioner, however, said he thought it would have been to Clark’s benefit to appear before the magistrate ‘ ’ because he would have had the opportunity of clearing up any doubt the magistrate may have about his conduct at the tragic accident to von Trips ” If Clark returned to Italy, the commissioner said he thought the magistrate would ask him once more to have a talk to obtain clarification. In the 1961 accident Clark’s and von Trips's ears were reported to have touched before they ’ careered off the track.