Third Man Charged

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31628, 14 March 1968, Page 24

Third Man Charged

(N.Z. Press Association)

NAPIER, Mar. 13.

A Patoka farmer, Neil Colin Alexander, aged 40, pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court at Napier today to a charge of being party to the unlawful use of an instrument on a woman to procure a miscarriage.

The charge arose from an alleged illegal operation on a 20-year-old single woman at Waipukurau on or about October 31, 1966. The trial is being heard by a jury before Mr Justice Macarthur. Mr G. E. Bisson is appearing for the Crown and Alexander is represented by Mr J. D. Donovan.

Giving evidence, the 20-year-old girl said she worked as a land girl for Alexander at Hawkestone Station, Patoka, from June until October, 1966. She had sexual relations with Alexander and Noel Freemantle, a shepherd on the farm.

The girl said she became pregnant. Alexander wanted her to go to a Salvation Army home, but she wanted to get rid of the child.

The girl said she arranged with an aerial topdressing pilot, Bob Webb, to have an abortion for £2OO. She told Alexander the cost of the abortion and also asked for £5O for herself. He was at first astounded but he later agreed to take the girl to Waipukurau.

The witness then detailed events that led up to her being examined and a miscarriage three or four days later.

Cross-examined by Mr Donovan, the girl said that initially Alexander tried to persuade her to forget about the abortion. He said he did not want to have any part of it.

“I told him I would tell his wife he had been sleeping with me if he did not give me the money,” she said. She also said she would put it round Patoka that she had intercourse with him. Mr Donovan: You knew that would upset him? —Yes, of course I did.

In other words you were attempting to blackmail him? —No, I didn’t think of it that way.

But if you look at it sensibly that was what it was?— Yes, but I had reason for saying it. You went further than that, didn’t you? You made a time limit on when he must make a decision? —Not that I remember.

He was worried sick when he left you?—Yes, he was.

The witness said Alexander told her later the same day that he would give her the money. She said that as far as she knew Alexander had nothing to do with the arrangements for the abortion.

Mr Donovan: The only reason you were getting any money was that he was worried sick about his wife and other people knowing?—Yes, as far as I know.