MAN 'SUICIDE RISK’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31904, 4 February 1969, Page 26

MAN 'SUICIDE RISK’

(N.Z Press Association) PALMERSTON j NORTH, Feb. 3. I A man accused of murdering his wife was regarded as a suicide risk and for ! this reason was given i shock treatment while he was on remand, a Wellington psychiatrist told the Pahnerstorr North Supreme Court today. Dr D. G. McLachlan, a witness for the defence, said that because of this treatment there would inevitably be some impairment of memory. He was giving evidence on the first day of a murder trial in which Allan Gibson McGhee, aged 41. a cleaner, is accused of killing his wife, Margaret, at Palmerston North on November 13. The hearing is before Mr Justice Roper and a jury. Mr J. A. Ongley, with Mr D. A. Ongley, is appearing for the Crown, and Mr K. H. Mason for McGhee. The trial is expected to end tomorrow. UNBIASED Dr McLachlan said McGhee had presented the facts of his marriage in a fair and unbiased way, and had made no attempt to minimise his own part in its breakdown.

He was, however, regarded as a suicide risk because of I the depression he was suffer-) ing as a result of severe do-1 mestic strife.

On the night of November: 13 McGhee’s latest depressive) episode would have been com-1 ing on for the last two I months. This made him more sus-j ceptible to emotional stress,) and his reaction that night! was different from the ave-) rage man’s in identical cir-j cumstances, or from his own) reaction if he had not been! depressed. i McGhee’s comment in his) statement that he wanted to) kill his wife was in accordance with previous remarks. “1 got the impression he had a self-destructive urge.” Dr McLachlan said. Questioned by Mr Mason on McGhee’s attempt to escape from the police patrol car which was taking him to the police station, Dr McLachlan said McGhee may have had suicidal intentions. LACK OF TRUST McGhee told the Court his relationship with his wife had been poor during the last 10 years. “Lack of trust was the main trouble, involving mostly money.” he said. He had been to various social agencies seeking help and had asked his employer to give him overtime so that his family would be asleep by the time he arrived home.

On November 10 his wife had hit him and he had gone to the Palmerston North police station to ask for help. On November 13 he had been worrying all day about a letter he had received which referred to a separation from his wife. That night a fight started with his wife after he told her the police were not coming to see her. “I think she swore at me I first, then lifted the kettle,” i he said. ) Mr Mason: Do you have any : recollection of what happened ) until you were put in the I police car? McGhee: No. That I could swear to. I remember seeing my wife on the floor. I had no intention of killing her.