PLAYGROUND DEATH HAS COURT SEQUEL

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31596, 6 February 1968, Page 24

PLAYGROUND DEATH HAS COURT SEQUEL

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 5. The death of a schoolgirl three days after she had been struck on the head in a school playground by a golf ball driven by a teacher was described in the Wellington Supreme Court today.

The trial started before Mr Justice McGregor and a jury. Victor Frederick Willett Soeterik, aged 24, was accused of the manslaughter of Deborah Joy Sarney, aged 8. The charge resulted from an incident at Glendale School, Wainuiomata, when the girl was struck in the forehead by a golf ball driven by Soeterik. Deborah died in Hutt Hospital three days after receiving the injury. Mr W. R. Birks is prosecuting and Soeterik is represented by Mr J. D. Dalgety. Lunch Hour Mr Birks said that during the lunch hour of October 24,

Soeterik was on duty patrolling the grounds of the school with another teacher to protect the children from any activity that might endanger them. Up to 300 children were playing in the grounds at the time and in the south-west corner another teacher, Mr Phillips, was practising golf shots, said Mr Birks. Mr Phillips had two golf balls on the ground in front of him—the one he was using for practice was made of plastic and the other was of the lisual golf ball material.

monstrate a shot and played the ball then lying on the ground, which happened to be the real golf ball. Soeterik’s shot went off at an angle to the right and struck Deborah. “She fell to her knees and clutched her forehead,” said Mr Birks. “The accused went to her assistance immediately and took her to the school medical room. She was soon afterwards taken to Hutt Hospital, where she died three days later.” Brain Damage

As the accused reached Mr Phillips he gave him some advice as to the golf strokes he was making. Soeterik proceeded to de-

A pathologist would tell the jury that the girl had died of brain damage and through a lung condition resulting from that condition. “We say that the blow of the golf ball caused the girl’s death,” said Mr Birks. Apparently there was no specific prohibition against practising with golf balls in the school grounds, he said. But the Crown alleged that Soeterik in doing something which in the absence of care might endanger life, he omitted to take such care.

He failed in his duty or care when he hit a golf ball when there were children playing in the grounds, said Mr Birks.

Hard Balls

Tn evidence, Henry William Phillipa said he did not know of any rule prohibiting the use of hard cricket balls in the playground. Graeme James Roberts, a pathologist, gave evidence as to performing a post-mortem examination on Deborah. He said that death resulted from a combination of haemorrhages within the skull. These were subjural haemorrhages and in addition there were marked swellings of the brain. There was no evidence other than that the blow to the forehead had caused death.

South Christchurch Jay.

eees.—Officers elected at a recent meeting of the South Christchurch Jaycees were.— President, Mr R. L. Parry; vice-president, Mr R. Lester; immediate past president, Mr I. G. B. Wilson; secretary, Mr R. J. Cordner; treasurer, Mr J. G. Butler; board, Messrs A. H. Bliss, C. Ridge, I. C. Stapleton, J. M. Westwood.