Girls on dope during killing

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33958, 26 September 1975, Page 10

Girls on dope during killing

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SYDNEY. September 25.

Two Christchurch girls accused of murdering a Kings Cross shop assistant last April 41 made tearful unsworn statements at their trial in the Central Criminal Court in Sydney today.

Judith Anne Garrett, aged 17. and Carol Edna Paintin, aged 16, both of Christchurch, have pleaded not] guilty to having murdered Edna May Parker in the] Little Gem Jewellers ati Kings Cross.

They are alleged to have been armed with a .22 calibre rifle concealed in a guitar case, which Paintin is said to have used to shoot Miss Parker in the back. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Paintin told the jury, "Il am not guilty.” In another part of her statement, Paintin said they, were short of money and: bought the rifle at a city shop where they also bought bullets because they thought it would look funny if they bought a rifle and no bullets. "We had some ‘smack’ (heroin)* which we both snorted and then we went up to the Cross. We were walking up and down all day.”

“We had a few smacks of marijuana. I don't know how it came about, but we went into the jewellery shop. Paintin said Garrett pointed the rifle at the woman and told her (Paintin) to go behind the partition and get some rings. Paintin said that later the woman started to scream. Then she (Paintin) had the gun in her hands and it went off. Later in her statement.: Paintin told the jury: “l| didn’t mean to do it. 1 know I have to be punished fori what I did.

“But I only did it for my baby and me." In an unsworn statement to the all-male jury today.

(Garrett said in part: “It doesn’t help me to say I am sorry, but I am.”

Garrett said she had been on drugs since the age of 14. She said that in Sydney before the shooting she had worked as a stripper and a prostitute. Earlier, the Court was told ; that Paintin had been under] 'the influence of a declared! i habitual criminal, Maurice] Hurst, at the time of the al-! leged murder. 1 Mr R. R. Byron, appearing! for Paintin, said he would put forward that the murder load occurred when Paintin !had been under duress to a Iman from whom she had reiceived money. Detective Sergeant Daly of Sydney said in evidence that I Hurst was being sought at present for failing to appear in Waverley Court of Petty Sessions on a charge of owning premises used for the purpose of prostitution. Hurst, he said, wasi declared a habitual criminal . in 1967 after being sentenced to seven years gaol' for false pretences. t The detective sergeant, answering Mr Byron, said that although Paintin had identified Hurst, she had not said she had dealings with him since arriving from New Zealand-

The hearing is continuing.