THREAT AFTER CAR INCIDENT ALLEGED

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32166, 9 December 1969, Page 32

THREAT AFTER CAR INCIDENT ALLEGED

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 8. A Grown witness said in the Supreme Court, Wellington, today, that James Edward Morton threatened to kill him if he did not withdraw a statement he had made to the police.

Morton, aged 51, a dairy factory worker, has pleaded not guilty to a charge that at Mangatarene, near Carterton, he wilfully set fire to a 1949 Chevrolet car, the property of Thomas Wagg and Company, Ltd; and not guilty to a charge of false pretences.

The . Crown alleges that on October 3 at Masterton, with intent to defraud by a false pretence, namely that the cause of a fire which damaged the car on September 21 was unknown, Morton attempted to “procure the *Vairarapa Automobile Association Mutual Insurance Company, Ltd, to deliver money in settlement of an insurance claim thereon to Mary Ann Morton.”

Morton has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of threatening to kill Tamati John Renata and not guilty to a charge of wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice. Mr J. H. C. Larsen appeared for the Crown, and Mr P. D. Swain for Morton. Mr Justice Haslam is on the bench.

Mr Renata, in evidence, said he was a fencer employed at Whiterock Station. He knew Morton and saw him on tile morning of September 21. Two Cars Mr Renata said Morton wanted him to take him to Carterton to remove two cars from the road. He had- said he hit a bridge. One of the cars was a Chevrolet belonging to Mary Ann Morton, the accused’s daughter. Mr Renata said he agreed to help Morton. In a car driven by Renata's 13-year-old son. Sonny, he accompanied Morton and the accused’s daughter, Jane, to collect the two cars. During the journey Morton had said he was going to burn the Chevrolet and that he would sooner have the $5OO instead of paying out the $75 he Owed for it The $3OO was coming from the insurance. Threat Made Mr Renata said that when thpy reached the two parked cars Morton opened the back door of the Chevrolet and tipped petrol on the seat The accused lit. a match and threw it into the car. They then left Mr Renata said Morton visited him on October 25 and said be had “quealed to the cops about burning my car.”

Morton grabbed him round the shoulders and said he could kill him for this.

Morton had told him that if he did not get him then he would get him later, and that he would never come- out of Whiterock alive. Mr Larsen;. Did he say what would happen if you didn’t withdraw the statement?—He would kill me. ‘ Cross-examined by Mr Swain,. Mr Renata said Morton had told him be had killed better men than him. Mr Swain: (Did he say where he had killed better men?—Overseas. The hearing will continue tomorrow.