COUPLE PLEAD GUILTY

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 February 1940, Page 2

COUPLE PLEAD GUILTY

HOTEL SENSATION CASE [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, February 12. An expected "development occurred. 1 in the' trial of the Station Hotel case in the Supreme Court, when the two accused, a man,and a married woman, who were allegedly involved in a suicide pact on November 6, reversed their original pleas of not guilty, to admit the charges against them, except the first count in the case of the man. On that charge he was found not guilty. When the hearing began separate trials, to avoid prejudice,, were granted by Chief Justice Myers. Evidence was taken until the luncheon adjournment, immediately after which pleas of guilty were entered, with the exception of one charge, and the accused were remanded until Thuisday for sentence. The accused were Francis Leonard Laurie, storeman, aged 39 (Mr. Henry) and Josephine Norton Laycock, aged 34 (Mr. Burt). Laurie was charged with aiding and abetting his wife, Beatrice Florence Rita Laurie, to commit suicide on November 5; attempting to murder Mrs. Laycock, and attempting to commit suicide on November 6. Mrs. Laycock was charged with attempting to commit suicide on November 6. Both accused were originally called to the dock togethei, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. When Mr. Meredith concluded his address outlining the case, His Honor, consulted Mr. Meredith and Mr. Henry in private. The Crown then proceeded to call evidence. Niue witnesses were heard before the Court arose for the luncheon adjournment. There was some delay before the Court resumed this afternoon, and immediately his Honor took his seat on the bench he intimated that, as a result of his private conversation with counsel earlier in the proceedings, the trial would probably be considerably shortened. Mr. Henry announced that Laurie desired to reverse his pleas to the second and third counts of attempting to murder Mrs. Laycock, and attempt--1 ing to 'commit suicide. Laurie plead- ! ed guilty to these two charges, and Mr. Meredith said he did not intend to ! tender any further evidence on the | first count of aiding and abetting in 1 his wife’s suicide. ' “A proper course has been taken by ' both Mr. Meredith and Mr. Henry,” 1 said His Honor. “When I called them ’ to the Bench this morning, I told them

that, on the case, as it appeared to me, I would not be prepared to allow a jury to find Laurie guilty on the first count. Mr. Henry admitted he was anxious about the first count, and that he did not see how Laurie could possibly hope to succeed on the second and third counts in view of the evidence, and particularly in view of his own statement to the police, in which he admits the offence. That is why 1 say Mr. Henry has taken a very proper course in the advice he has given the prisoner.” His Honor continued: “The prisoner has taken a proper course in pleading guilty, and Mr. Meredith has taken a proper course in calling no evidence on the first count,’' His Honor then directed the jury to return a verdict of “Not guilty” on the first count, and verdicts of “guilty” on the other two counts. The jury returned verdicts accordingly, and Laurie was remanded until Thursday for sentence. When the jury was dismissed, Mrs. Laycock was called, and her counsel, Mr. Burt, said he had explained to her what had transpired, and she now wished to reverse her pleas to one of guilty. She pleaded accordingly, and was remanded until Thursday for sentence. Bail was renewed in Mrs. Laycock’s case.