Manslaughter verdict

Press, 12 August 1978, Page 7

Manslaughter verdict

PA Auckland A jury in trie Supreme Court at Auckland has found a young man guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The jury returned its verdict on Kevin Wayne Harrison, aged 23, a scrubcutter, of Mount Wellington, after a retirement of over two hours and a half. Harrison had pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering Sami Soni Haumono in a street fight at Onehunga on February 8. Evi-! dence was given at the, three-day trial that Mr I Haumoncr died from stab wounds to the heart. Mr Justice Chilwell re-. manded Harrison in custody for sentence.

■ Mr E. R. Winkel appeared’ jfor the Crown, and Mr M. J. j Corry and Mr R. Harrison; j appeared for the accused. ; In his closing address to I the jury, Mr Winkel said the I Crown considered that Mri I Hauinono, at the time of the fight, had been defending j himself. He was seen to be! I kicked by four to six people i after he had fallen. i By taking and opening. his j I knife, accused showed that' > his action was not the ges- i iture of a man who was; i defending himself, said Mr’ ! Winkel. , For the accused. Mr Corry' ! said the jury could accept ! 'that Harrison had been in: fear for his life during the ’ fighting. He had not used .the knife in an attack but in self-defence.