COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL.

Evening Star, Issue 14635, 3 August 1911, Page 6

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL.

SADLER’S CONVICTION QUASHED. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 3. The Chief Justice delivered the following judgment in Res v. Sadler (the Chriistclimvli manslaughter case): —“The Court are of opinion that the evidence adduced in this case was insufficient to warrant the jury in finding a verdict of nxan&'a.ugivter. The conviction is therefore quashed. As thoie is another person to lie tried for the game off on co the Court consider it <aq>cdient to defer stating the reasons for their decision tmtii the trial referred to ended.'’ A CROWN APPEAL. In. the Appeal Court to-day the case Crown v. Reynolds and Peterson is being heard. This is a case reserved by the Chief Justice from the Supreme Court in Wellington. Prisoners were charged with an illegal operation, and application was made to have them tried separately, upon the ground that they would be prejudiced in thei' defences. This was refused by Sir R. .Stout, who subsequently directed an acquittal, on the ground that the girl’s evidence, being uncorroborated, was insufficient. The questions for the AppealCourt were ; Was His Honor right in refusing the application for severance, in holding that there was not sufficient corroboration of the girl's story, and in directing the jury to acquit. Mr Neave is appearing 'for*the Crown, Mr Gray for Reynolds, and Mr Herd man for Peterson. Mr Neave contended that the jury were entitled to convict if they thought the girl's story alone true after being warned Ey the Judge us to the unreliability of an accomplice’s evidence. He further contended that there was corroborative evidence of independent witnesses.