JURY’S UNUSUAL DUTY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21947, 15 February 1946, Page 5

JURY’S UNUSUAL DUTY

WOMAN’S MENTAL STATE UNABLE TO PLEAD (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 15. When Phyllis Clnva Norton, aged 2J. came before Mr. Justice Chilian and jury in the Supreme Court yesterday to stand her trial on a charge of manslaughter of her infant child, the unusual duty n; deciding the, prisoner's mental ability to plead was cast on the jury.

Counsel for the accused raised th question of the woman's mental cap: city to plead and made application i<: a pronouncement on the point. The Crown representative. Mr. Merc di.th, asked that the jury be empai neled for the purpose and the judg concurred.

Air. Meredith said the accused luin thrashed her illegitimate child when il was ill and the child had died. .Medical evidence was given that the accused was feeble-minded. Mis Honour said that even if a deranged person answered to a plea on a crime, unless there was behind that plea serious appreciation of what if meant, it would not be right for the Crown to take the plea. Without leaving the box the jury returned a verdict that the accused was so insane a? to be unable to plead. The accused was ordered by the court to be kept in strict custody until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice was known.