GAOL FOR 12 YEARS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1938, Page 8

GAOL FOR 12 YEARS

WIFE POISONING ATTEMPT. SYDNEY, September 9. Joe Camilleri, 33, a. Maltese poultry farmer, was convicted by a jury, before Mr. Justice Milnei’ Stephen in the Central Criminal Court yesterday, of a charge of having attempted to administer poison to his wife, Mary Camilleri, with intent to murder her. The accused, who took the verdict calmly, was sentenced to 12 years’ penal servitude. The Crown alleged that Camilleri left cakes, containing poison, for his wife while she was a patient at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. His Honor, in imposing the sentence, said that the maximum sentence provided by the Act was penal servitude for life. In this case the means adopted showed such deliberation, and secrecy, that the matter was. a grave one. The accused had been found guilty of the act only of July 3, of attempting to administer poison.

ACCUSED’S DEFENCE. Camilleri, who spoke in Maltese, made a long statement in his defence from the dock. This was translated to the Court by an interperter. “1 know nothing about this charge,” he said, “and I have never administered any poison, to my wife. I have always respected my wife and children, and 1 have done the best for them. When my wife suggested to me that she did not want to have any children I had always been opposed. Her father told my wife not have any children. They have always been against me because I would not allow my children to go to their place. “There were two sisters suffering from tuberculosis,” he added. “That is why I used to keep my children away from them. 1 did not want to seo my children suffering from the complaint. “Because of my respect, and love for my wife, I used to go to see her, and take my children with me. I used to i risk my life because of the traffic by going to see her. “[ have always been worried over

my wife, and asking the doctors about her health. Several nights I could not sleep for thinking of my wife.” The accused added that he always took money and things his wife fancied to the hospital. Up to the time his wife’s father told her she. should not have iparried him, they were happy and contented. From that time, and until she went to hospital, she was “like a mad woman.” She did not like to see his face, nor dir she like to see the children. Sometimes when the children cried she would push them over on the floor. The accused added that he had told Detective Arnold that he did not know what was in the cheese cakes. “The way my wife and I are,” he continued, “is solely the fault of my father-in-law.” At this stage Camilleri hesitated, then said: “I have a lot to say, but 1 cannot remember.” Then he added: “My father-in-law knows very well that ho did not treat me well as a son-in-law.” At the. hospital one night, his father-in-law saw him and cried, and said: ‘1 am sorry.' ” Mr. MacMahon, addressing the jury, ■aid that. Camilleri was a man of good character, and his whole life was inconsistent with the’commission of any ict. that would cause injury to his wife. The jury was in retirement an hour ind a quarter.