OHIRO ROAD MURDER

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 68, 13 December 1933, Page 11

OHIRO ROAD MURDER

Executive Council Decision DEATH SENTENCE TO STAND An announcement that the Executive Council had decided not to interfere with the carrying out of the death sentence on George Edward James, enginedriver, aged 57, who was convicted of the murder of Mrs. Cecilia Smith at 27 Ohiro Road, Wellington, on June 30, was made yesterday by the Minister of Justice, Hon. J. G. Cobbe. The trial of James, which took place in the Wellington Supreme Court last month, occupied three days. The defence asked for a verdict of manslaughter, contending that Mrs. Smith had been killed by James in the heat of passion caused by sudden provocation. The prosecution argued that James’s actions had been deliberate, and that he was fully responsible. On the day Mrs. Smith’s body was discovered, her four-year-old son was found drowned on.the rocks at Point Halswell. On its fourth return to the court following its original retirement, the jury returned a verdict of guilty with a strong reconfmendation to mercy. The Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, pronounced sentence of death. James collapsed, and was carried moaning from the dock. The Crimes Act stipulates that, following the decision of the Executive Council, the sentence, is to be carried out within seven days. At 5.15 o’clock last evening, , the. Sheriff, Mr. W. W. Samson, received a warrant signed by the Governor-Gen-eral stating that, the sentence would stand, and, accompanied by the deputysheriff, Mr. E. G. Rhodes, he went to 'the prison. They ' there Informed James that the sentence of the Court would be carried out, and that the execution would take place next Friday morning at 8 o’clock.