Attempted Murder Charge Admitted

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32016, 17 June 1969, Page 26

Attempted Murder Charge Admitted

(Neto Zealand Press Association) NELSON, June 16. A young man who attempted to murder his wife at Takaka on March 28 was imprisoned for three years by Mr Justice Macarthur today at the quarterly session of the Supreme Court in Nelson.

The man, Robert Hugh Wells, aged 24, a cement worker, of Takaka, had p’eaded not guilty at the Lower Court hearing in April, but pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court today. Wells, who was represented by Mr H. J. Smith, was charged with attempting to murder Mrs Phyllis Jocelyn Wells, aged 24. Mr D. J. Boyle appeared for the Crown. Mr Smith said that Mrs Wells had been married before and had entered a de facto relationship with another man before obtaining a divorce from her first hus-

band and marrying the accused. “This offence arose entirely out of the accused’s intense, passionate love for his wife. It was this which drove him to the depths of despair in March when he became convinced she was going to leave him—and not just leaving him for a cause, but by fabricating a disgusting charge as an excuse,” said Mr Smith. Mr Boyle said Mrs Wells was stabbed four times. Three of the wounds might have been fatal. “The evidence shows he attacked her on sight, had to be restrained from attacking her further, and then abused her as she lay bathed in blood,” Mr Boyle said. His Honour said he was prepared to accept that the offence occurred at a time when Wells was in a state of great emotional distress. He had a duty to the public to impress that the use of a knife in that way was regarded as very serious. The maximum sentence was one of 14 years “and in extending the utmost leniency I cannot give you less than three years,” his Honour said.