NOT GUILTY VERDICT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 119, 13 February 1941, Page 9

NOT GUILTY VERDICT

Woman Charged With Theft Of Trust Money OWN DEFENCE SUCCEEDS (B v Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 12. After a retirement of an hour and a half, the jury in the Supreme Court today returned a verdict of not guilty in the case 'in which Phyllis Olive Barnett, aged 31, formerly a clerk in a legal office, was charged with the theft of £BOO. Accused was discharged. Mr. Justice Blair presided. Mr. G. S. IL Meredith conducted the prosecution and accused conducted her own defence. Speaking from typewritten notes, Barnett addressed the jury fur 20 minutes. concluding'with the statement: "Gentlemen, 1 did not steal the £BOO and I did not steal £BOO from Miss Baird.”

Mr. Meredith said Unit in the circumstances he would not exorcise his privilege of addressing the jury.

Mr. Justice Blair said the ease resolved itself into the simple question for the jury of whether they believed accused or believed her former employer, Robert Urquhart, solicitor. Clearly there was perjury on one side or the other. Even on her own story, however, accused knew that the receipt she gave Miss Baird was not a proper receipt to have given.

Commenting on the fact that aftefr offers of legal assistance had been made accused preferred to defend herself iris Honour said that accused got some advantage from her position. "She got things past she should not have got past. It is for you to say whether it was done on purpose,” lie said.