Airman Died From Self-inflicted Wound

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31210, 7 November 1966, Page 14

Airman Died From Self-inflicted Wound

(From Our Own Reporter* WESTPORT. Nov. 4. A verdict that Alan Clark. I aged 30. a corporal in the I Royal New Zealand Air Force at Wigram, died from a selfinflicted wound on or about May 22 at Charming Creek, near Seddonville. was returned by the Coroner (Mr J. Dellaca) at an inquest at Westport today. Ivan L. Tyler, of Ngakawau, said that after he had given the deceased a lift from Sergeants Hill on May 22. Clark had pressed a gold wristlet watch into his hand “for his trouble” and refused to take it back. Earlier Clark, who was carrying a rifle, binocular and other equipment, said that he had travelled extensively in England, Wales and America and offered Tyler some dollars.

Evidence of finding the body while out shooting was given by a young Ngakawau mine worker, E. T. Tyler. Constable L. Maloney (Granity) gave details of a rifle shot wound in the head. He said that it was difficult to find anything to identify the man: it appeared though he had deliberately removed anything which would lead to his identity. Sergeant J. D. Walker, of Westport, gave a summary of evidence taken at Christchurch. After the discovery

of the body, extensive inquiries were made through out New Zealand and this had revealed Clark’s identity. "The injuries suffered, phis the decomposed state of the body made identification by viewing uncertain, but a dental surgeon at the Wigram Air Force base identified the deceased through dental records," he said. "Evidence had already been obtained by a Christchurch Coroner (Mr A. T. Bell) from Corporal John Valpy Mclver and Flying Officer Richard Edward Bright as to the dead man’s general conduct. In his room at Wigram a note was found suggesting what could be done with his personal effects." said Sergeant Walker. The Coroner said that the evidence of a pathologist and others left him in no doubt that Clark took his own life. “No reason has been deduced for this except that he kept to himself, indicating a depressed state of mind.” The Coroner found that Clark had died of lacerations to the brain and fractures to the skull from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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