CHARGES OF MURDER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 136, 11 June 1942, Page 7

CHARGES OF MURDER

TRIAL OF AMERICAN SOLDIER

MELBOURNE, June 10

After counsel for the defence had moved foi1 a medical examination of Private Edward Leonski, aged 24, the United States Army court-martial today adjourned the hearing of the three charges against him of * having murdered Melbourne women. No plea was entered by Leonski.

Under normal procedure a medical examination might take three or four weeks. It will be carried out by a military medical board.

The court-martial met in a small hall, to which all the entrances were closely guarded! The public were not admitted. All passes, for officials, the Press, and witnesses, were closely scrutinised. Members, of the Court sat at a long trestle table with a big American flag suspended overhead.

Official observers included the Commissioner of Police and senior Australian Army officers. The members of the Court were eleven United States officers, presided over by a colonel, and ranged down to first lieutenant.

Counsel for the defence was provided by the United States army, Leonski having intimated that he did not desire civilian counsel. Leonski did not avail himself of the opportunity of challenging any members of the Court. ■:

The three charges\vere read by the Trial Judge Advocate, whereupon counsel for the defence said it was the intention of the defence to raise the question of the accused's mental capacity. That should be determined before the accused made his plea. In view of the seriousness of the charges and the fact that there were a great many witnesses, he recommended that to save the time of the Court it should rule that the procedure set out in the court-martial manual be followed and a report obtained as to the accused's mental status.

The Trial Judge Advocate said the ■prosecution had no objection, and the motion of counsel for the defence was allowed.

The court-martial then adjourned to a date to be fixed by the President.