NEW TRIAL SOUGHT FOR JORGENSEN

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30498, 21 July 1964, Page 19

NEW TRIAL SOUGHT FOR JORGENSEN

(New Zealand -Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 20. On ground of fresh evidence a new trial is being sought for Ronald John Jorgensen, aged 31, a workman, one of two men serving a life sentence in Auckland Prison for the Bassett road machine-gun murder.

Mr P. A. Williams, leading defence counsel for Jorgensen, said at a press conference today that fresh, vital evidence had come to hand since the Court of Appeal dismissed Jorgensen’s application for a new trial last May.

Also present at the conference was Mr K. L. Ryan, junior counsel for Jorgensen.

“Certain fresh evidence of a vital nature which supports the submission that Jorgensen was innocent of the charge of murder brought against him has been brought to the. attention of his solicitors,” said Mr Williams. Mr Williams said new witnesses had been interviewed by defence solicitors and affidavits taken from them.

A lengthy petition had been prepared and the affidavits appended to it and in terms of section 406 of the 1961 Crimes Act which dealt with the prerogative of mercy had been addressed to the Governor-General in Council through the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan). The Minister had acknowledged receipt of the petition. “The solicitors engaged by Jorgensen consider that there are further people in Auckland who could provide’other important evidence favourable to Jorgensen,” said Mr Williams.

“A plea is made on Jorgensen’s behalf for these people to get in touch with us.” Mr Williams’ mercy petition is believed to be the first

>f its kind involving a murder charge in New Zealand. In a 1953 petition the Court of Appeal directed that the new evidence disclosed by the petitioner be taken before a Magistrate and then subsequently directed a new trial be held. Mr Williams and Mr Ryan are seeking a new trial for Jorgensen under similar procedure. On March 4, Jorgensen and John Frederick frillies, aged 30, a rigger, were found guilty by a Supreme Court jury at Auckland of a charge of the murder of Kevin James Speight at Bassett road on December 7 and sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Gresson. An appeal by both men against their conviction was

dismissed by the Court of Appeal last May. The bodies of Speight, aged 24, a seaman, and George Frederick Walker, aged 38, a salesman, were found in the front bedroom of the house on Saturday, December 7, by the landlord when he called to collect the rent. A few days after the murder police announced that a reward of ■ £lOOO would be paid for information leading to the arrest of the murderer. That sum had been paid out for information received by the police. Detective Chief Superin-

tendent H. M. Holmes, actingofficer in charge of the Auckland police district, said today the police had no knowledge officially of the new development.