COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1937, Page 9

COURT NEWS

Death of Cricketer MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, August .5. George Frederick Foster, of Manchester, was charged at Bolton Court with the manslaughter of the cricketer, McDonald. The prosecution said that McDonald was thrown ten to fifteen feet into the air, when he was struck by Foster’s car, which passed under him. Foster said that he did not see McDonald. Without calling on the evidence lor the defence, the Magistrate dismissed the charge of manslaughter against Foster, deciding there was not a prima facie case for committal. He also decided that the alternative charges of dangerous driving and driving without due care, attention and without reasonable consideration had not been proved. Ail the summonses were dismissed.

LORRY DRIVER CHARGED. WELLINGTON FATALITY. [Per Press Association]. WELLINGTON. August 6. A charge of negligently driving a motor lorry in Wakefield Street on June 24, thereby causing the death of James Keith McLeavey, was preferred against Walter Owens, before Mr Luxford, S.M., to-day. Deceased was struck near the back of his lorry, by another, driven by Owens, which, according to the evidence, came round the corner on the left hand turn. McLeavey’s lorry, according to the evidence of a companion, Cyril William Edser, was standing at 5.15 p.m. with no lights on. McLeavey was undoing a canvas cover to put a parcel on the lorry. It was raining, and had been raining all day. Owens came round the corner with headlights on. Witness shouted out a warning to Owens. He did not think at the time that Owens might not see them.

Charge Dismissed manslaughter case. WELLINGTON, August 6. In a case in which Walter Owens, a lorry driver, was charged with negligent driving, thereby causing the death of James Keith McLeavey, the Magistrate, Mr. J. H. Luxford, after hearing the evidence, dismissed the case on the ground that the evidence of negligence was of such a slight nature that no Jury could reasonablj’ convict.