TWO INCONCLUSIVE TRIALS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 258, 29 July 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

TWO INCONCLUSIVE TRIALS

Man Found In House

Two juries have disagreed at the current sessions of the Supreme Court in Wellington ou the question of whether William George' Collie, labourer, aged 23, is guilty of breaking and entering the house of Mr. C. H. Dement, Home Street, with intent to commit theft. A jury disagreed at the first trial, last Friday, aud another jury disagreed at a retrial on Thursday. An application wa« made by Crown Prosecutor, Mr. W. 11. Cunningham, for a third trial. Accused was found inside the house at 6.46 p.m. on June 6 by some of its occupants. A window, which was said to have been left closed, was found open, and the furniture had been disturbed. The explanation given by accused, for whom Mr. M. G. Neal appeared, was that he was under the influence of liquor when he went to the house seeking board, having been directed there by a stranger. He did not enter the window, but walked in through the doorway after knocking had brought no reply. Thursday's jury was in retirement from 3.20 p.m. to 7.25 p.m. The first jury was out six hours 10 minutes. Mr. Justice Reed was on the bench at both trials.