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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20959, 5 December 1942, Page 4

NO ACTION

THE MAREO CASE REPORT ON PETITION STAND BY MR. DOIDGE (P.R.) WELLINGTON. Dec. 4. The Statutes Revision Committee of the House of Representatives, having spent four days hearing counsel in connection with petitions praying for the reconsideration of the case of Eric Mareo, the Auckland musician who is serving a life sentence on a charge of murdering his wife, reported to the House to-day that it has no recommendation to make. Mr. F. W. Doidge (Nat. Tauranga), said that he would like to express his views, even although ho, was alone in his opinions. An immense principle was involved as to whether justice had been dope or whether it iiad miscarried. The Select Committee had to consider the case because fresh evidence hacl been brought forward in the nature of a statement, by Sir William Willcox, a world famous expert in poisons and poisoning cates. Mr. Doidge said he realised that importance should be attached to the fact that Mareo was twice found guilty by two separate juries, but juries, he suggested, were not. infallable. It had been proved many times in the history of British law that juries could make mistakes and he cited several celebrated cases. Beck Case Recalled Adolf Beck, for instance, he said, was found guilty on two occasions, 10 witnesses swearing positively to his identity. He was sentenced arid at the end of three years was liberated. Then the crimes recommenced. Beck was again tried and sentenced. However, the judge, being struck with the demeanour of the prisoner, who did not appear to him to resemble a guilty man, decided to defer sentence until the- next sessions. During that period a fresh series of similar crimes occurred and another man was arrested and admitted that he was tne man who committed the crimes for which Beck had been twice found guilty. Beck was given a free pardon and a grant of £SOOO by the Government. . Mr. Doidge suggested that. in the Mareo case, the House should weigh Ihe fact that it was understood that the judge who conducted the second trial was not in accord with the verdict of the jury. Sir William Willcox was one of the greatest toxicologists in the world, and he suggested that iiis statement, instead of going to a Select Committee Should have been submitted to a committee of medical men. Another point was that there were many reputable citizens in Auckland who knew Mareo when he was a figure in the city and they could not believe that he was a coldblooded, callous, poisoner. Gravest Doubt Raised

Mr. Doidge added that he had spoken to a doctor who had given evidence in the trial and this doctor declared that -he was never satisfied in his own mind that Mareo was guilty. The eminent counsel who hacl defended Mareo was so convinced of his innocence that he had attended the Select .Committe hearing without recompense and Mr. K. C. Atkins, who was the prisoner’s counsel, had come to Wellington for the hearing at Ids own expense because he was convinced that Mareo was an innocent man.

Mr. Doidge suggested that there was Ihe gravest doubt raised regarding Mareo’s guilt by the statement of Sir William Willcox and he asked if.the prisoner, under these circumstances, .was to remain in gaol for the term of iiis natural . life and his son to go through life handicapped by the stigma that his father was a murderer.

Replying after a brief discussion, Mr. F. W. Schramm, Chairman of the committee, said that Mareo already had had a hearing from every tribunal to which he could go. The Crown had done everything possible for him, bringing witnesses from Australia for the secorid trial and paving the legal expenses of that trial. • which, he understood, were £6OO.

The committee- report was adopted.