Grave dug in murder attempt, says Crown

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 6

Grave dug in murder attempt, says Crown

PA Palmerston North A Feilding girl, aged 17, was committed for a High Court trial on a charge of attempted murder after a two-day deposition hearing ended in the District Court at Palmerston North yester-

day. Donna Marie Mclntyre, an unemployed waitress, was charged with attempting to murder Paul James Stuitje in Feilding on February 24. She appeared before Messrs W. E. S. Elder and H. Robert, Justices of the Peace.

Mr L. H. Atkins, assisted by Miss H. C. Hoogendyk, appeared for Mclntyre, and Mr D. C. McKegg for the prosecution. Earlier, the Court heard that Mclntyre had threatened to kill Mr Stuitje and had dug a grave in the back garden of her home.

In his opening remarks, Mr McKegg said Mclntyre met Mr Stuitje when she lived in Wellington. She returned to Feilding with him and they lived in a house previously occupied by her mother.

The relationship between Mclntyre and Mr Stuitje deteriorated and he was asked to leave. He ignored Mclntyre’s threats that she would kill him if he did not, Mr McKegg said. Mr McKegg said it was alleged Mclntyre began digging a grave for Mr Stuitje’s body about three days before' she allegedly struck him a blow with the blunt end of an axe.

Mclntyre’s flatmate, Anna Burke, told the Court that Mclntyre and Mr Stuitje sometimes argued. About a week after she moved into the house, Mclntyre told her she was going to kill Stuitje, Miss Burke said.

Mclntyre and she began digging a grave in the back

garden. She thought the grave was a joke, she said. As they worked, Miss Burke said she sang “When The Saints Go Marching In” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Mclntyre sang, too. The night before February 24, she and Mclntyre shared a bed because they had a visitor staying. Mr Stuitje slept in what was previously her bedroom, she said.

In bed Mclntyre told of her plans to kill Mr Stuitje. She had the idea of using an axe, Miss Burke said. A Palmerston North hospital psychiatrist, Dr Mason Durie, told the Court yesterday that he interviewed Mclntyre at the hospital on March 3. He also had access to notes made by staff in the observation ward. He concluded Mclntyre was not suffering from any mental illness which would render her certifiable under the Mental Health Act. He also concluded she had a number of mental health problems but was not psychotic.

Cross-examined by Mr Atkins, Dr Durie said he understood Mclntyre came to the hospital seeking help.

An interview with her was necessary to determine whether or not she needed help. He said it would be correct to say his conclusions about her mental health problems indicated she needed help. Mclntyre’s sister, Wendy Jane Young, said Mclntyre told her she did not trust Mr Stuitje and felt threatened by him. Parts of evidence given by Detective Constable David Johnstone were suppressed. He said he had gone to a house in Feilding on March 2 as a result of information he received. He found dried blood spattered on the wallpaper in a bedroom, an axe under a dog kennel, and a trench 1.8 metres long, 90cm wide and 15 to 20cm deep.

Mr Johnstone said that Mr Stuitje’s injuries had not been serious and he had been released from hospital with a clean bill of health. The Justices of the Peace found there was sufficient evidence to commit Mclntyre for trial in the High Court. She pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded on bail to June 25.