MOTORING FATALITY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 138, 15 June 1927, Page 10

MOTORING FATALITY

DRIVER SENT TO GAOL

HUMAN LIFE HELD CHEAPLY

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NELSON, This Day

The heating of a charge against Edward Carl Smith of negligently driving a motor-car at Motueka on Ist April last, thereby causing the death of Yolande Murphy, was'concluded at the Supreme Court last night, before Mr. Justice MacGregor. After 'three, hours'"retirement the jury' .returned a verdict of guilt, with a strong recommendation to mercy ou the grounds that, owing to his long and strenuous day, the accused was not able to exercise the care necessary for a person driving a car and that he was not recklessly negligent. :

In sentencing the accused to six months' reformative detention, to-day, his Honour said that he agreed with the jury's recommendation. The aecuscd was^ not in a fit state to exercise due care owing to.his long and strenuous day, and his Honour considered, however,..that the accused would have been more mentally alert had he not stopped at a wayside hotel and taken liquor. Human life was becoming to be held too cheap on the part of certain motorists. Human life must be protected. A fine or probation was out of the question. -