Man sent for trial in stabbing case

Press, 18 July 1980, Page 2

Man sent for trial in stabbing case

PA Wellington A man who . allegedly stabbed and killed a university student on a central Wellington street; in midApril without .motive was sent for trial yesterday on a murder charge. Arthur Rail, aged 42, an unemployed chef, pleaded riot guilty in the District Court to a charge of the murder of lan Lars Macfarlane, a student, and was committed to. the High Court for trial. ■ ; s’ Macfarlane . was struck down on the footpath at the intersection of two of Wellington’s busiest, streets as he walked with' a group of friends. Ball was arrested soon after.' ■?-., ... ■

The Crown-prosecutor (Mr J. Larsen) told the court that Ball had stabbed Mr

Macfarlane “without warning, provocation, or motive.” Detective Constable Albert van der Zwan testified .in a written statement that Ball had . been “stuttering and crying” as he spoke in a police car. “At times he would curl himself up by placing his head between his legs and make incoherent noises.” The constable said that in a later interview ’ Ball- bad said: “I have been wanting to kill dozens of them for years.- I do it in my room, but it is ”ot supposed to happen., • ■ "People always stare at me They sneer, - snigger, and point me out. I hate it.” Mr van der Zwan said that Bal! had said he had attacked the student because of the look on his face. "I couldn’t stand it no more.”