Man Aimed To Kill Cat But Shot Son Instead

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30312, 12 December 1963, Page 21

Man Aimed To Kill Cat But Shot Son Instead

(NZ. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, December 11. A man shot his 20-month-old son dead while trying to kill a cat, a Coroner was told at Bankstown today. The inquest was on Gregory James Nettle, who died of gunshot wounds on October 15. The child’s father, Alan Edward Nettle, said the cat appeared to be diseased and

he decided to kill it after a neighbour told him his son had been playing with it. Nettle said he thought his son was still playing in the tool shed in the backyard when be shot at the cat under the house. “It was semi-dark, but I could see the shape and the brown and white colour of the cat about 15 feet away,” Mr Nettle said. “I took careful aim and fired. “I heard a little scream, thought it was the cat and went under the house," he said. "Then I saw my son, Gregory, lying on top of the cat.” Mr Nettle said he cradled his son in his arms before taking him into the house and running to a phone box. Detective-Sergeant W. A. Morris said the child had been dressed in clothes which would have blended with the surroundings under the house and made it difficult to see him

The Coroner, Mr S. Cox, returned a finding of accidental death.