HAWERA MURDER

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 March 1933, Page 9

HAWERA MURDER

COMPENSATION CLAIM. The unsolved murder of a Hindu at Hawera over a year ago was recalled in the House last week, when the Public Petitions Committee reported on the prayer of W. T. Tinsley, of Masterton, who was arrested on a charge of murder and against whom a grand jury at New Plymouth returned no hill. Tinsley asked for compensation on the grounds of alleged false imprisonment, but the committee had no recommendation to make, adding that it was of the opinion that the value of the articles of clothing, retained by the Crown and the expenses Tinsley had been put to in stopping witnesses appearing at the Supreme Court should be refunded. In supporting the petition, Mr G. R. Sykes (Government, Masterton) said that no precedent could be found in the criminal history of Hie country for tile grand jury to return no bill against a. man charged with murder. Tinsley had spent £240 on his defence, having borrowed this money from his wife. All he had received was witnesses’ expenses. Tinsley, in the speaker’s opinion, had been griev-

ously injured through the remissness of members of the police force, who failed to do their duty when the murder was reported and so gave the murderer, whoever he was, an opportunity to escape.

Replying, the chairman of the committee. Mr F. Lye, said that Tinsley had been charged, but had never been found not guilty, nor had lie ever been tried. It would place the Police Department in an invidious position if any person whom the police were not able to convict should be able to claim compensation. Under certain circumstances, criminals might take advantage of the position. Where it could be proved that the prosecution was malicious or improper there was recourse through the Courts.