SHOT HIS EX-WIFE

Evening Star, Issue 26029, 18 February 1947, Page 9

SHOT HIS EX-WIFE

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER POST-WAR DRAMA (P.A.) NAPIER, February 17. “If all returning -servicemen shot their unfaithful wives, the undertakers would have a busy time,”, said the Crown Prosecutor, Mr L. W. Willis, in opening his address at the trial in the Supreme Court to-day of .Cyril Walter Goodman, aged 54, who was charged with the attempted murder of Kathleen Lucy Christiansen at Dannevirke on October 12, 1946. Goodman was also charged with discharging a firearm so as to cause actual bodily harm. Mr Justice Christie was on the bench.

Stating that Mrs Christiansen was fortunate not to have lost her life, Dr E. F. Boyd, of Dannevirke, said that when he esaniined her in hospital be found that a .22 bullet bad traversed the upper lobes of both lungs, pierced the right chest wall, and lodged in the arm. Had the bullet been a littie lower it would have eaused death. Noel George Christiansen, a .draughtsman, of Dannevirke, said that during the absence overseas of tlie accused lie and the accused’s wife became friendly. On the day .the accused returned his wife went back to him, but left him again two days later, and witness and the woman resumed their relationship. A child was born, of which witness was the father. In February, Goodman divorced his wife on £he grounds of adultery, witness being named as the co-respondent.; When the decree absolute was granted in June witness married Mrs Goodman.

Continuing, witness said that the accused came to their house on the night of October 12 about 9.15. He appeared to be friendly when witness answered the door. Goodman, who had obviously had a few drinks, asked to see “ Johnny ” (the ickname of witness’s wife). Witness asked the accused inside, but the latter refused, saying he would only be a minute. Witness went in and called his wife, who went out. The next thing he heard was a shot and he saw his wife fall back, calling, “ He has shot me, Noel.” To Mr .«T. C. Fabian (for the accused), witness said he, his wife, and the accused had always been friendly; Kathleen Lucy Christiansen corro-

borated the evidence of her husband. In reply to Mr Fabian she admitted that she did not write frequently to the accused in T 944. The hearing was adjourned.