UNEXPECTED TURN

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1947, Page 3

UNEXPECTED TURN

COUNSEL'S SUGGESTION AT MURDER TRIAL WHANGARBI MAW’S DEATH (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 11. An unexpected suggestion cropped up in the concluding stages of the Crown case in the trial of Reginald Alexander Donaldson on a charge of the murder of Sydney John Peachey. Questions by the accused’s counsel were directed to an indication that Donaldson’s confession to the police might have bedn false. The Crown’s case is being conducted by Mr. V. R. Meredith, with whom is Mr. G. Speight, The accused is defended by Mr. R. K. Trimmer, with whom is associated Mr. F. McCarthy and Mr. D. L. Ross. “Didn’t someone else afWhangarei confess that they had shot Peachey?” asked Mr. Trimmer, cross-examining Detective-Sergeant J. B. Finlay, who had given evidence of a confession by Donaldson. The witness said he had not heard that a woman had confessed to firing the shot. Police Check Up. To other questions, the witness said there was a check-up on all persons carried by a taxi to the neighbourhood of Peachey’s home about the time of the murder. To Mr. V. R. Meredith, who appeared for the Crown, the witness said that Donaldson’s statement was confirmed by the character of the empty shell found outside the window at Peachey’s home, as well as by the finding of the pistol where he said he had thrown it. John Francis Donaldson, a brother of the accused, said the accused was often sick. He rarely talked, and could not take any responsibility as he seemed to lose his head in an emergency. He seemed very upset over the'second break with Mrs. Peachey, and said that there seemed to be nothing left in life. Case for Defence. Opening the case for the defence, Mr. McCarthy said an attempt would be made to prove that Donaldson did not realise that what he had done was wrong. Evidence would be given by the accused’s mother that the accused had always been a weakling and generally had been unable to cope with “life’s burdens.” An Air Force non-commissioned officer who would be called would say that the accused was “up in the air” whenever he received letters from Rona Peachey, but at other times was in the depths of despondency. He was boarded out of the service because he was incapable of carrying out the duties asked of him - • , XI. 4. Witnesses would give evidence that after his break with Rona Peachey the accused seemed to lose all interest in life. Medical evidence of the accused’s mentality would also be given. Mr. McCarthy said the taxi-driver who drove a man to within 150 yards of Peachey’s house at precisely the same time as the shooting would give evidence. Evidence was given by the mother of the accused and by Carl James Just, the accused’s brother-in-law. The hearing was adjourned.