NARRABRI TRAGEDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1929, Page 7

NARRABRI TRAGEDY

CONFESSION BY .ACCUSED. (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, December 5. At the inquest at Narrabri to-day into the death of Janies Smith, of Sorenson, whose dismembered body was found in Narrabri Creek, the police produced a signed statement by Paul Minel, aged 50, a German labourer, who is under arrest on a charge of murder. Minel sensationally related how, during a drunken quarrell with Smith, in an old hut, Smith attempted to strike him with a brick or a stone, which Minel wrestled from him, and, striking Smith with it, Smith fell and appeared to go to sleep. A short time afterwards Minel saw him reach for a rifle. A scuffle ensued. Minel seized the rifle which exploded. Smith fell. Minel later noticed that he was dead. He -then secured an axe and chopped the body to pieces, and placed the pieces in bags, with the head separately, and dumped them in the creek. Minel then worked about the district for some days. He had a great deal of drink. He sold Smith’s motor truck, and then took Smith’s name and left the district. Minel was committed for trial on the charge of murder.