PICTON MURDER CASE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 24, 30 January 1933, Page 11

PICTON MURDER CASE

APPEAL COURT HEARING

The hearing by the Court of.Appeal of the. applications made by.counsel for EdWard Tarrant, who is under sentence df death for murder,at Picton, i. set down for Wednesday. Toward the end of November Tarrant was found'guilty in the Supreme Court' at Blenheim on a. charge of murdering James, Flood at Picton in 1931, anil was sentenced to death by' Mr. Justice Blair. Subsequently, Mr. E. Parry, prisoner's counsel, was granted teave by .the trial Judge to apply to the Court of Appeal foria new trial, and also to reserve certain questions.of law for the Court. It is these matters the Court is to heai-. Ordinarily the Court of Appeal would not be sitting until 13th March, and to enable the applications on behalf of Tarrant to be disposed of before then, amending legislation was found necessary. As a result the Judicature Amendment Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives last week by Governor-Gen-eral's Message. Urgency was accorded the measure, which was passed by the Lower House. It will come before the Legislative Council to-morrow, when it is expected to receive just as quick a passage, enabling the Court to sit on Wednesday morning. Three Judges will be on the Bench, and three days have been set down for the hearing. •