CAR ACCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 27, 2 February 1943, Page 5

CAR ACCIDENT

OFFICER COURT-MARTIALLED

(P.A.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 1

Major George Frederick Myers, Canterbury Regiment, today appeared before a general court-martial on a charge of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline in that he negligently drove an Army motorvehicle, which was damaged to the extent of £201. The charge was a sequel to an accident on November 3. The accused pleaded not guilty. The prosecuting officer, Lieutenant E. C. Champion, said there were two other occupants of the car at the time of the accident. The evidence would suggest that the car when near a bend had struck a big rock at the side of the road, bounded through a hedge at a height of six or seven feet above the ground, and had come to rest on its side, approximately 23 feet inside the corner.

Evidence was given for the prosecution by expert witnesses on the lines of the prosecutor's opening, and by two officers who were passengers in the car, Major V. A. Norrish and Captain D. C. Nixon, The former said he had received concussion and could not remember the accident, but shortly before the accident the car was travelling at a moderate speed. Later, he said, the car was travelling at a reasonable pace round a bend till just before it left the road, when it got out of control, apparently because the driver was surprised to find the bend sharper than he had thought. In a statement, the accused said he had been affected by the strain of a recent illness, and when rounding the bend at moderate speed was surprised to find it deceptive. He considered the accident was the result of an error of judgment. The defending officer, Lieut-Colonel W, R. Lascelles, said it was unfortunate that a, simple charge had to be tried by a court-martial which would leave a stigma after the facts had been forgotten. He said there was a conflict m the Crown evidence between the theory of experts and the facts of the officers. The finding of the Court will be referred to the convening officer, Brigadier E. T. Rowlings, for confirmation.