YOUTH ACQUITTED

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 12

YOUTH ACQUITTED

Negligent Driving Charge By Telegnmh— Press Association. Blenheim, November 18. After a retirement of 20 minutes this mortiMig, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the case in which Arthur James Smith, aged 18. butcher’s assistant, was charged with negligent driving, causing the death of Arthur Hubert Wright. The case was the result of a collision between a van driven by the accused and a bicycle on the outskirts of Blenheim on August 25. Negligence was alleged in that the accused did not keep a proper look-out. failed to see the light on the bicycle at an intersection, and used the wrong side of the road. Mr. Justice Ostler said it was a question for the jury to decide whether, if the bicycle was unliglited, the accident was not just an error of judgment on the part of the accused; or, if it was lighted, whether lie was negligent: in not seeing it. . His Honour said that a false statement originally given by the accused, that lie found the body on the road, should not be seriously considered, as It was obviously given through fear. In returning the verdiet the jury drew attention to the dangerous state of the intersection concerned.’