SUPREME COURT MURDER CHARGE
Two trials sought
The Court of Appeal will hear an application by two brothers, jointly charged with the murder of Phyllis Myrtle Reidy, aged 63, a widow, at Christchurch in April, 1974, for separate trials.
The brothers, James William Lewis, aged 24, and Michael Arthur Lewis, aged 21, were refused an application for separate trials by Mr Justice Macarthur in the Supreme Court after a hearing in chambers. Mr N. W. Williamson appeared for the Crown; Messrs K. N. Hampton and R. J. Murfitt for James Lewis: and Messrs A. D. Holland and T. M. Abbotti for Michael Lewis. James Lewis was found guilty by a jury in June, 1974* on "a charge of murdering Mrs Reidy, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. In October, 1974, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction and ordered that a new trial be held. The Crown then jointly charged James Lewis and Michael Lewis with the murder of Mrs Reidy. Michael Lewis gave evidence at the trial of his brother. Their trial was to have been held next week, but will now be delayed until the Court of Appeal makes a decision on the application for separate trials.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19750312.2.178
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33790, 12 March 1975, Page 23
Word Count
199SUPREME COURT MURDER CHARGE Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33790, 12 March 1975, Page 23
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in