MAREO RETRIAL

Evening Star, Issue 22353, 1 June 1936, Page 8

MAREO RETRIAL

MURDER CASE COMMENCES FRESH EVIDENCE FOR DEFENCE [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, June 1. Sentenced to death in February for the murder of his wife, Thelma Clarice Marco, aged 29, by administering a hypnotic drug, Eric Mareo, aged 45, a musician, stood in the dock at the Supreme Court this morning for retrial on the grounds that fresh evidence had been discovered. Mr Justice Callan presided; the Crown case was conducted by Mr V. R. Meredith (who at the time of the first trial was travelling as manager of the All Blacks), with him appearing Mr F. M'Carthy; while the defence is again conducted by Mr O’Leary (Wellington), Mr Trevor Henry, and Mr K. C. Aekins. No evidence was called for the defence at the last trial, but several witnesses will be called on this occasion, including three from Australia. It is expected that t|ie trial will last about a fortnight. Casual public interest was shown this morning, a small queue of men waiting outside the doors, -and a few women being seated in the gallery set aside for them. Mareo stepped briskly into the dock, and, after smiling at his counsel, stood watching carefully the empanelling of the jury. He was neatly dressed in a blue striped suit and looked fit and bronzed.

Of nine applications for exemption from the jury, four were granted. Fifteen called were set aside by the Crown, and the defence exhausted its right of challenge. The court adjourned to allow the jurymen to make their business and domestic arrangements. Mr Meredith, in opening the ease for the Crown, said that if a person took an overdose of veronal he or she would go into coma, and when recovering would not relapse. Mrs Mareo, who had been married only 18 months, was a very talented lady, a B.A. of the University of Queensland, and an actress of charm. While with the Ernest Rolls Revue Company she met Mareo, and they married at Wellington in October, 1933. She died in April, 1935, at her home, Tenterden Avenue, Mount Eden, where she had lived with her husband and his son Graham (17), by a former marriage, and a girl known as Betty Mareo (21), who was the daughter of Dr Grey and Mrs Grey, of England. One of the many witnesses to be called. Miss Freda Stark, was a close friend of Mrs Mareo, and a frequent visitor to the house. Another was Miss Eleanor Brownlee, who met Mareo when she started to take lessons in orchestration from him, and who also acted as accompanist to the orchestra and his private secretary. At the time of the marriage Mrs Mareo had saved £SOO, which she handed to her husband. At the time of his wife’s death Mareo was financially embarrassed, and out of permanent employment. There had been three serious quarrels between Mareo and. his wife shortly before her death. “ Mareo was a heavy drinker, declared Mr Meredith, “ and used to come home under the influence of liq« or - He described an occasion after a cabaret party when Mareo came home under the 'influence, and there was a row, in which Mareo verbally attacked his wife, savin"-: “ Get out on the streets, where vou belong,” and she replied: Give ine back my £500.” Mareo replied: 1 can’t do that. It would take me two years.” On another occasion of a row between them in the bathroom, Mrs Mareo left the house with Freda btark, spending the night at her friend s place. Eleanor Brownlee, who had brought Mareo home in her car, slept that night in the house. , ~ Mr Alcredith described a further quarrel when Mareo came home one night and ordered Freda Stark out of the house, and accused his wife of being a Lesbian. The evidence would show that Mareo purchased veronal, stating that he had been suffering from insomnia. Just prior to the fatal sleep accused had purchased veronal. On Friday his wife was in bed all day. Betty returned home and had tea with her father and brother. The wife got up and washed the the things. Mareo went to the bathroom and wrote a note, which he gave Betty, telling her she was the daughter of Dr Grey, and if anything happened she should communicate with a solicitor. Written on the envelope was an instruction “ not to be opened unless she heard of his death.” The letter would show that Mareo was in either a morbid! ,or _ a desperate mood. The same evening Mrs Mareo went into a sleep and finally died. When Freda Stark left the home that night she kissed Mrs Mareo and did not notice the smell of liquor. Evidence would be given by two women. They saw Mareo after his wife’s death and he told them he had given his wife some veronal on Friday night. That night Freda Stark noticed that Mareo, on awakening, staggered l in- his gait, but there was no smell of on him. Mrs Mareo was still sleeping. Freda Stark suggested getting the doctor and Mareo said if she did not wake soon he would get a doctor. He said if he got a doctor he would! get into trouble because of the medicine he got her. That night, before Mareo went for a drive with Brownlee, Stark again suggested getting the doctor. After, he had been, out about half an hour Stark heard Mrs Mareo call out “ Freda,” and went to her. She didn’t seem to have power in her limbs, but her mental activities were all right. _ On the Saturday night, at the suggestion of Stark sal volatile was given Mrs Mareo, who became brighter. A cup of milk was brought in for the wife, accused handing it to Stark to give his wife. When Stark attempted r.o give the rest of the milk Mrs Mareo clenched her teeth and declined to drink it. Soon she was again asleep, and next morning Stark again suggested getting a doctor!