Open Finding On Woman’s Death

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 14

Open Finding On Woman’s Death

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 9. After expressing concern at discrepancies in evidence before him; the Auckland Coroner (Mr A. D. Copeland) today brought in an open find- I ing on the death of a • woman off Rangitoto Is- , land on the night of , April 23. i The Coroner decided that , the woman, Mrs Evelyn Norina Parkinson, aged 39, , of Nortcote, died from drown- ! ing. , He heard evidence that Mrs Parkinson disappeared from her husband’s 18ft jet boat.) The husband, Nevel Vere Par- , kinson, aged 45, said be|i

thought the accident happened about 11.40 p.m. The Coroner noted that an independent witness saw the jet boat circling round and

round about 10 p.m. and mentioned the fact to a fellow fisherman.

The Coroner said he was concerned at the discrepancy in times. He noted that another witness said that the steering on the boat could not be made to function properly and should not have been used. Mr Parkinson had said that he regained consciousness after the accident, in which the boat went out of control, turned the motor off and set off about nine flares. Staff in the Mount Victoria signal station did not see any {flares nor did anyone else. [Other flares in the jet boat [had not been used. I The Coroner said Mr Park--linson was in the jet boat in the area for four or six hours, (depending on which evidence was accepted. j “In view of these facts. I I can only bring in an open (finding,” he said.