Drowning 'not accident but callous murder’

Press, 1 November 1977, Page 3

Drowning 'not accident but callous murder’

Greymouth reporter “This was nb accidental drowning but a callous murder,” said the Solicitor-Gen-eral (Mr R. C. Savage, Q.C.) in the Supreme Court at Greymouth yesterday, when s pening the prosecution against Ronald David Bailey, aged 39. unemployed. Bailey has denied a charge of murdering his wife, Margaret Joy Bailey, at Kiwi Point, near Stillwater, on February 8 last year. Mr Justice Roper is presiding over the trial by jury. Mr Savage, with him Mr J. J. Tucker, appears for the Crown; Bailey is represented by Mr K. N. Hampton, with him Mr R. W. Davidson.

Outlining the circumstances, Mr Savage said the accused had said that his wife and their four children were on holiday at the time from Christchurch. They had stopped at Kiwi Point for lunch, the children had gone fishing, and he and his wife w ... for a walk. His wife had gone to relieve herself, clambered up a bank and went out of his sight. Accused had said that after a short time he heard his wife call his name, but he , could not see her. Then she came floating down the river.

He had rushed out into the water, pulled her ashore and tried artificial respiration without success. A doctor and the police were summoned. Drowning was assumed. “But after the funeral, circu instances -changed rapidly,” said Mr Savage. The police became aware that a few days before the drowning, Mrs Bailey had been insured for $19,000, that her signature on the proposal had been forged, and that the accused was in financial straits at that time. Some time later, a man named Curtis told the police that the accused had asked him to say that he was a witness to an accidental drowning. The Crown maintained that Bailey murdered his wife by drowning, but could not say specifically how he did it. Whether she slipped or was pushed into the water, the accused then ensured that she stayed there and drowned.

“This was a planned, deliberate murder,” said Mr Savage. “The accused arranged. the insurance and then bided his time until a suitable opportunity arose to; kill his wife. The Crown, says that opportunity arose; at Kiwi Point, and he took it.”

Sergeant P. W. Gillnlan, of the Police College, Trentham, and formerly of Grey-

mouth, said that he took, photographs of the scene, 1 and the position of the body, and its clothing. Later that evening, ac-i cused had given a sworn j statement for an, inquest. Bailey had said he had; half-walked and half-swum' out to Mrs Bailey; the only; sign of life was when she! had clutched his 'jacket! lapel. He had tried artificial! respiration without success,! and had screamed to his eld-1 est son to flag down a! passing motorist, which he! did. The motorist had gone for a doctor. To Mr Hampton. Sergeant .Gillman said that accused! was crying much of the time I he was with him, but was I co-operative in showing him i !where his wife had gone and! .where he found her. • Arthur Thomas Payn, of! I Dobson, said that while gold 1 iprospecting with some com-l • panions he saw a camper! ■ van arrive. He saw some! children, and a man who! asked him about fishing. To Mr Hampton, he agreed that a strong wind was blowing at the time. Mr Hampton: Strong enough to make you brace yourself to avoid being toppled over by it? Witness: Yes. Phillip John Macaskill, of

Stillwater, gave similar evi-. dence. Kelvin Leslie Bailey, now I aged 14, said that his; ; mother married accused .about two years before she jdied. Accused had adopted | the children, who changed ! their name to Bailey. i j Bailey worked a a psychologist "and also in a • place that sold batteries.”' I He discussed the proposed, trip with the children, but not with Mrs Bailey "as he ! was keeping it as a I surprLj.” They left on Thursday,! February 5. went around the top of the South Island, and on the Sunday morning they ! (travelled south from Reefton.l Mrs Bailey had decided on | the spot where they halted ■for lunch at Kiwi Point., While his mother prepared, lunch, the three eldest children. with Bailey, went lookjing for fish in the river. After • lunch, they continued fishing 'but Bailey had left them, • I saying he would collect them at 4 p.m. Witness said his line I became entangled and he decided to take it back to ; the van. Only the baby was in the van. He assumed his parents had gone for a walk, and he had gone to look for them. He saw his mother lying

,at the water’s edge and I Bailey kneeling beside her, |with his clothes wet. Bailey .•told him to stay back and I stop a motorist, which he! i did. The motorist went; 1 towards the scene, and Bailey' I told him to get a doctor. I Kelvin Bailey said that accused was “very upset and • icrying,” and that his mother; ■could not swim, and never* I went swimming. To Mr Hampton, he said that the wind was so strong that the van was rocking while they were in it having their lunch. Bailey had suggested after lunch that the children, should do the dishes, but I their mother told them to go • back fishing, said witness. Martin James Healey, the (motorist who was flagged • down, said that he ran down; a track towards the river, ! and saw a man kneeling near ; what he found to be a body. Accused was soaking wet and distressed. As witness drew closer to him, he heard him say. “Keep back,” but he assumed that he was addressing the children who were following witness. Witness said that his wife went to the camper van with the children. Witness had gone for a doctor, and returned with him. The trial is proceeding.