Bennett Guilty Of Murder

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31680, 16 May 1968, Page 26

Bennett Guilty Of Murder

(New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, May 15. A jury in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth tonight found Roger John Bennett guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Roper.

Bennett, a 15-year-old schoolboy, pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering the headmaster of the Inglewood High School, Alexander Stuart Black, at the school on April 10. The jury added a strong recommendation for mercy. The jury deliberated for three hours 43 minutes before reaching a verdict. Life imprisonment was the only sentence which could be passed, his Honour told Bennett. His Honour said the recommendation for mercy would be passed on “to the appropriate quarters.” Women wept in the crowded public gallery as the verdict was announced. Several left the Court and the

boy’s mother cried: “They can't do that to him,” as she was assisted from the Court.

Proceedings were interrupted for several moments until order had been restored. Expert Evidence Mr J. P. Quilliam, assisted by Mr K. W. Irwin, represented the Crown. Mr M. Reeves, assisted by Mr Q. S. L. Reeves, was counsel for Bennett. The medical superintendent of the Tokanui Hospital, Henry Rongamau Bennett, was called by Mr Quilliam to give evidence. Dr Bennett said he had examined the accused twice. On

April 11 he examined him and found him able to plead to a charge of murder. After discussions with Dr Clouston and Dr Bethune, the witness said he reached the conclusion that Bennett did suffer and was suffering from a form of temporal lobe epilepsy. Dr Bennett said his diagnosis was clinched when Dr Clouston said electro-encepha-lograph tests showed positive readings for temporal lobe epilepsy. Warm Relationship

He said that during his first examination he found the youngster was intelligent and able to establish and maintain a warm relationship. “I asked myself how could such a boy be responsible for this sort of act. Surely there is something wrong with him, especially when one finds no apparent motive. “I believe that the boy suffers from temporal lobe epilepsy and could be, and probably is, suffering from a disease of the mind,” Dr Bennett said. He said the accused had told him that for a period of three weeks before the event he had from time to time thought about killing Mr Black. He would think about it and then drop the idea the next day. Bennett had told the doctor of the planning he used to do. “He told me of planning to make a canoe and a pistol. “A Sort Of Fantasy” “In the same way he planned something really bigsomething unique. "It was in a way a sort of fantasy. He was turning over in his mind something he did not intend to do. “However because he had told others he felt compelled to complete the plan,” the witness said.

“He is the type of boy who would see a plan through.” Dr Bennett said he had listened to the evidence during the trial. Nothing by the lay witnesses would convince him that the boy suffered a disease of the mind that rendered him incapable of knowing the nature and quality of the act. Dr Bennett said that at the time of the shooting the accused was approaching the culmination of planning over the previous three weeks. At that time he was in a state of great indecision. Final Step

“He had to drive hard to take the final step that led to this awful act,” said the witness.

In his address Mr Quilliam said there were various verdicts the jury could arrive at: Not guilty, guilty, not guilty on the grounds of insanity, and guilty of manslaughter. “It is my submission that when you come to consider a verdict there are only two realistic choices—not guilty on the grounds of insanity, and guilty,” Mr Quilliam said. He told the jury:

“It is my proposition to you that Dr Bennett’s evidence makes some sense, especially when you consider what we know from other witnesses—that there were signs in the evidence of tension, build-up and planning.” Mr Reeves in his address said temporal lobe epilepsy was a dreadful thing. “It would be a great shock

to the system for a person who thought he was in a dream or a nightmare to find that it was a reality. “Not Half-hearted” “It is little wonder that the accused after he had committed this act ran away,” Mr Reeves said. "I give you notice that the defence of insanity is no halfhearted, last-ditch stand but a most serious defence.” Mr Reeves urged the jury to consider the fact that the offence was committed by a boy of good family with no motive whatsoever. After summing-up to the jury, his Honour said although it was not for him to decide the verdict he was inclined to feel that the defence of insanity had been made out.