NOT GUILTY VERDICT
Charges of Blackmail and Assault By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, July 24. The trial of John Leslie Spicer, aged 23, a traveller, on charges of attempting to extort money by threats and of assault was concluded before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court to-day. Spicer was charged with attempting to blackmail Ids previous employer, Alfred Richard Buchanan, and with assaulting Norman Kenneth Sligo. Ills Honour said the jury would have to consider whether the threat alleged was such as would alarm an ordinary person -of reasonably firm mind. If Spicer believed the money was owing to him that would be a legal defence for demanding it. In general blackmail was a very serious and grave offence. A verdict on charges of assault would depend on whose account of what happened they believed. After a retirement of two hours the jury found accused not guilty on any of the charges and he was discharged.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 255, 25 July 1935, Page 2
Word Count
156NOT GUILTY VERDICT Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 255, 25 July 1935, Page 2
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