NUNN’S TRIAL

Grey River Argus, 13 June 1931, Page 5

NUNN’S TRIAL

HASTINGS SHOOTING Attempted Murder Charge (Per Press Association). NAPIER, June 12. Herbert Frederick Nunn stood his I ttial at the Napier Supreme Court toivuy on ai charge of attempting to mur ider Mavis Steele Smith, at Hastings 'on April 7, 1931. A second count was [added to the indictment, being “that |xvit-h intent to do grevious bodily harm to Mavis iSteclc Smith he did discharge at the said Mavis Steele Smith a gun [loaded with; destructive material.”

‘ Aceimied pleaded not guilty. The Courthouse was crowded . The case for the prosecution was conducted by [Mr H. B. Lusk. Mr E. J. W. Hallett .appeared for the accused.

I Outlining the case for the Crown, Mr Lusk said the accused met tno girl and fell in love with her. He proposed, but her father and mother , refused, because he was either getting a divorce, or was divorced. In. spite cf this they continued to meet, although the father warned him not to see her. Eventually the girl came to the conclusion that she had made a. mistake, and she made endeavours to avoid him. On the day of the shooting, the girl attended a wedding, and that night she went- to a dance, being called for by a man named Eves 1 . At 7.30 the girl left her home in Pakowhai Road and turned into Lynd[hurst Road, whore they saw a car [turned towards the hedge. They saw the car was accused’s aud accused was in the car. In addition, there was evidence to show that a.c i.

'beGo. round the house prior to Miss [Smith leaving for the dance. After Mis* Smith left her home, it was clear that accused returned to Havelock. 1 where! he met and talked with. a resiident. It appeared, however, that he I was not content to remain in Havelock. At- one o’clock next morning, [Miss Smith was dropped at the front gate, by Eves, and on entering the [gate, was hailed by accused, Nunn, who was among some trees. He hatl a gun behind his back. He asked her if she would many him, and she refused whereupon he said. “Then I’ll shoot you-” He then asked her to

go and sit in the car with him, and for some time they stood at the gate. (For some reason, she ran away, and Ihte c'hnsed her with a. gun. While she jwas running away the gu.u was firm'd lat her and the received a charge on the back of the head, receiving serilous injuries. The* man disappeared | and did not even wait to* see what ’had happened, the girl being left stretched out on the lawn. This fact obviated the possibility of accident, for in that case, the man would have gone to see what he had done. There was a piece of evidence that really settled the whole matter. Tbig was tlu? fact that a letter wa£ found in Nunn’s house, on the night, of his arrest. The letter wag in Nunn’s writing to his daughter, aud showed it was the intention of Nunn to kill the j girl. It also looked from the letter

•as if accused intended to do away with himself. A detective wa 5 quick,ly on the scene, apd. on calling at accused’*? house, {found accused still dressed at three o’clock that- morning. The car wa 3 also warm and showed signa of recent use. The detective told him that. Miss {Smith had been .hot, and he replied, “Poor Mavis.” The detective asked Nunn if he had | a gun, and accused replied, “Yes.” The detective got the gun and smelt I the barrels, the righthand one prpT[iug to have been recently used. Ac I cused was asked where he - had been and said, “I did not shoot Mavis Smith. I may have been instrumental. Th© silly young devil.” Accused said he could spjr who clid it, but would not at the moment. Accused possessed a ring on which was engraved th© name “Mavis,” which further showed accused was deeply infatuated. Evidence would be given that unused wa perfectly normal that evening and ulsjo quite able to talk sctasibly when interviewed by the detective early next morning.

Evidence for the prosecution followed on the lines of that given in the Lower Court.

Accused thep. went intoj the box, stating that as a result, of shell shock at the war, he was in anEnglish hospital for about a| year. On returning to New Zealand he contracted influenza and pneumonia aaid other maladies. Ho wa s IU for several years and still suffered from headaches. He met Miss Smith in November, 1929, said immediately became infatuated, and she returned the affection.

Accused said that he went to Pakofwhaa IRoad after midnight, as he ' ticularly wanted to see who brought [Mavis homd. He had no intention of shooting Mavis w*hen he took the gun out otf the car. He went inside the gate and waited for Mavis. The latter alighted from the car and started to run towards the house, and accused called “Mavis.” She stopped and came towards accused, who told .her he didn’t think she would go out to parties after promising not to. Nunn reminded her that he had spent about £250 on her. The pair walked to thef gate, and accused asked her to come to the car, and ”if she would come to me as soon as possible.” Mavis replied that she was not going cut with him any more. Beyond i accused said, he had no recollection of what occurred, until he got home, when he seemed to recall it.

The hearing wa s adjourned till oomorrow.