Man Admits Charge Of Bigamy

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31539, 29 November 1967, Page 12

Man Admits Charge Of Bigamy

A man who, while legally separated from his wife, married another woman, was remanded in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday until December 1 when he pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy. The man, Hoy Eward Turrall, alias Roy Edward Morrow, aged 32, a fireman, was represented by Mr M. J. Glue. Sergeant F. G. Mulcare said in the summary of facts of the case that the defendant, who was then known as Morrow, married Barbara Iris Moulday at St Mark’s Church of England, Carterton, on August 31, 1957.

Three children were born of the marriage. During 1960 the marriage broke up and the defendant left his wife.-

Sergeant Mulcare said the defendant met a young woman in Christchurch. After a mue-month association they were married in the New Brighton Methodist Church on July 7, 1962. The woman’s name was suppressed. When he was married the second time, the man used the name of Turrell. The defendant told the woman he was single and an orphan. After the “marriage” they lived at New Brighton, Lyttelton and Christchurch. In January, 1963, a son was born, said Sergeant Mulcare. Police made inquiries at the man’s home about arrears of maintenance for his separated wife. Turrell told his second “wife” that he was divorced.

“On June 22, 1964, tbe defendant’s legal wife filed a petition for divorce at the Masterton Supreme Court and a decree nisi was made absolute on December 19, 1964. Mrs Morrow remarried on December 29,1964,” the sergeant said.

’ In March, 1965, the defen- ■ dant and his second “wife” • ceased to cohabit. The second i “marriage” was set aside on, • September 25, 1965, on the grounds of bigamy. When interviewed by the • police yesterday, the defendant stated he knew he was in the wrong with his second “marriage” and was now keen to have the matter settled. Mr H. J. Evans, S.M., said he would order a remand to enable him to consider an appropriate penalty. He did not consider a probation officer’s report necessary.