Letter To Accused Read In Court

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 3

Letter To Accused Read In Court

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, March 10.

Letters allegedly written to Doreen Ellen Davis, aged 30, a nursing sister, by the woman she is accused of murdering were read at Davis’s trial in the Supreme Court at Auckland today.

Davis is charged with murdering Raewyn Kathleen Joy Petley, aged 40, charge sister at Whenuapai, on November 19. She is being tried by a jury of three women and nine men before Mr Justice Moller.

Mr K. Ryan appears for the

accused and Mr D. S. Morris, with him Mr J. G. Miles, for the Crown.

Most of the morning sitting was taken up with the reading by Detective Senior-Ser-geant Brian David Mills of a 46-page letter allegedly written by Miss Petley. This letter was found among the accused’s possessions at Mill House.

The letter was first dated

August 30, 1966, and had further entries on September 1, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14. One entry was signed “Raewyn.” It took an hour to read.

A photograph of the dead woman was also produced. On the back was written, “To Ellen, my dearest darkheaded little monster with my sincerest love. Found at last and mine to keep for ever. M.D.H.L.M.,” and three crosses.

Five more letters allegedly written by the dead woman to the accused were read after lunch.

At Mr Ryan’s request, Mills read other writing on the back of the photograph of the dead woman: “Your great mistake, to my greatest discovery. M/dad.” Blood Analysed Ronald Charles Selkirk, a scientist, said that he analysed a sample of the accused’s blood, and found that it contained 2.9 milligrams of barbiturate to 100 millilitres

He also analysed a sample of Sister Petley’s blood and found no detectable quantity of any of the drugs mentioned in earlier evidence. To Mr Ryan, Selkirk said that Sister Petley’s blood contained a very small trace of alcohol, but this may have been normally present The hearing will be continued on Monday.