SEQUEL TO MOTOR ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 182, 28 April 1921, Page 4

SEQUEL TO MOTOR ACCIDENT

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER DRIVER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL From Our Own Correspondent* Palmerston North, April 27. . On February 28 a motor accident occurred in the Manawatu Gorge by which a man named David Davidson met his death. At the time the driver of the car disappeared, and it was not until a fortnight ago that he was arrested on a charge of having stolon a motor-car valued at £l5O, the property of Goldingham and Beckett. The accused, Andrew Bezzant. alias Deer, alias Andreso, was brought lip at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, when, on the application of the police, the charge of stealing the car was withdrawn, and in its place no was charged with- having converted tns car to his own use. To this he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two months* imprisonment with hal’d labour. Bezzant was further charged that on the same date in the Manawatu Gorge he caused the death of David Davidson by negligently driving a motor-car of which deceased was an occupant. Evidence was given by several witnesses of tho movements of accused on the day in question after he had taken possession of the car. Visits had been paid to Bunnythorpe, Feilding, Awahuri, and Ashhurst, and various hotels were visited on the way, at some of which the party of four in the car were refused liquor. One witness stated that soon after entering the Manawatu Gorge, when a halt was made to put on the side Hights, it was found that the car was too close to the cliffs, and it was necessary to put the machine almost on to full lock when starting it again. The result was that when wav was got on. the car plunged over the bank into the river. Accused reserved his defence, nnd was committed for trial for manslaughter at .the next sittings of the Supreme Court in Palm arson North.