A MOTORIST SENTENCED

Evening Star, Issue 19583, 15 June 1927, Page 6

A MOTORIST SENTENCED

“ human life held too CHEAP " |Peb United Psess Association.]

NELSON, June 15

Thp hearing of the charge against Edward Carl Smith of negligently driving a motor car at Motueka on April 1 last, thereby causing the death of Yolande Murphy, was concluded in the Supreme Court last night before Mr Justice MacGregor. After three hours’ retirement the jury returned with a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy on the grounds that owing to his long and strenuous day accused was not able to exercise the care necessary for a person driving a car, and that he was not recklessly negligent. In sentencing accused to six months’ reformative detention to-day, _ His Honor said he agreed with the jury’s recommendation. Accused was not in a fit state to exercise due care, owing to a long and strenuous day. He considered, however, that accused would have been more mentally alert had ho not stopped at a wayside hotel and taken liquor. Continuing, His Honor said that human life was becoming to be held too cheap on the part of certain motorists. Human life must ho protected, and a fine or probation was out of the question.