SUICIDE PACT

Grey River Argus, 13 February 1940, Page 8

SUICIDE PACT

MAN AND WOMAN ———————— , Change Pleas to “Guilty” AUCKLAND, February 12. A motion for separate trials was successfully moved in the Supreme Court, when Francis Leonard Laurie, storeman, 39, and Josephine Norton Laycock, married,' 34, appeared for tnal before Chief Justice Myers. Laurie was charged with aiding and abetting in the suicide of his wife, Beatrice Florence Rita Laurie, on November 5, with attempting to mur--1 der Mrs Laycock, and with attempting to commit suicide. Mrs Laycock was charged with attempting to commit suicide. The circumstances arose from the discovery of Laurie and Mrs Laycock in an hotel bedroom on November 6, with wrists gashed. Mr Trevor Henry appeared for Laurie, and Mr R. 1 S. Burt for Mrs Laycock. Mr V. RMeredith conducted the case for the Crown. Both accused pleased not guilty, and Mr Henr v moved for separate trials. After the Chief Justice had agreed to separate trials, the charge against Laurie was proceeded with, and a jury empanelled. In moving for separate trials, Mr Henry said there was a reasonable likelihood of one party or the other being prejudiced if tried together. His Honour should be able to see that no injustice was done. Mr Henry pointed out that two of the charges against Laurie were of a serious nature, and in no way affected the other accused. The case had attracted great public interest, and it was not human nature for the jury entirely to disabuse their minds of the facts surrounding tne case.

Mr Burt supported these contentions. Mr Meredith opposed, contending that if a possibility of prejudice existed, it could be removed by proper directions from ihe Bench. • Sir M. .Myers said that though ther® was not much risk of injustice, therewas a possibility, and, in his opinion, the safer course was to have separate trials. Mr Meredith elected to proceed with the charges against Laurie. Mrs Laycock left the Court, but was retained in custody. Circumstances leading up to what he referred to a suicide pact between Laurie and Mrs Laycock, were br efl.y traversed by Mr Meredith in his opening address to the jury. AUCKLAND, February 12. An expected development occurred in the trial of the Station Hotel case in the Supreme Court, when the two assused, a man and a married woman, who were allegedly involved in a suicide pact on November 6, reversed their original pleas of not' guilty, to ad-

mit the charges against them, except the first count in the case of the man. | On that charge he was found not! guilty. When the hearing began separate trials, to avoid prejud.ee, were granted by Chief Justice Myers. Evidence was taken until the luncheon adjournment, immediately after which pleas of guilty were entered, with the exception of one charge, and the accused were remanded -until Thursday' for sentence. The accused were Francis Leonard Laurie, storeman, aged 39 (Mr Henry), and Josephine Norton Laycock, aged 34 (Mr Burt). Laurie was charged with aiding and

abetting his wife,. Beatrice Florence Rita Laurie, to commit suicide on No-

vember 5; attempting to murder Mrs Laycock, and attempting to comr*iit suicide on November 6. Mrs Laycock was charged with attempting to commit suicide on November 6. Both accused were originally called to the dock together, and pleaded not guilty

to the charges. When Mr Meredith concluded his address outlining the case, His Honour consulted Mr Meredith and Mr Henry in private. The Crown then proceeded to call .Nine witnesses were heard before the Court arose for the luncheon adjournment I Thre was some delay before the Court resumed in the afternoon, and immediately His Honour took his seat on the bench, he intimated that, as a result of his private conversation withi counsel earlier in the- proceedings, the trial would probably be considerably shortened. Mr Henry announced that Laurie desired to reverse his pleas to the second and third counts of attempting to murder Mrs Laycock, and attempting to commit suicide. Laurie peaded guilty to these two charges, and Mr Meredith said he did not intend to tender any further evide’/e on the first count of aiding and abetting in his wife’s suicide. “A proper course has been taken by both .Mr Meredith and Mr Henry,” said His Honour. “When I called them to the Bench this morning, I told them that, on the case, as it appeared to me, I would not be prepared to allow a jury to find Laurie guilty nn the first count. Mr Henry admit-

ted he was anxious about the first count ,and that he did not see how Laurie could possibly hope to succeed on the second and third counts an view of the evidence, and ly in view of his own statement to the police, in which he admits the offence. That is why I say Mr Henry has taken a very proper course in the advice he has given the prisoner.” His Honour continued: "The prisoner has taken a proper course in pleading guilty, and Mr Meredith has taken a. proper course in calling no evidence on the first count.” His Honour then directed the jury to return a verdict of, "Not guilty’ on the first count, and verdicts of “guilty” on the other two counts. ThC| jury returned verdicts accordingly,' "and Laurie was remanded until,' Thursday for sentence. | When the jury was dismissed, Mrs, Laycock was called, and her Mr Burt, said he had explained to her, what had transpired, and she noWj wished to reverse her pleas to one of guilty. She pleaded accordingly? and was remanded until Thursday j for sentence. Bail was renewed In Mrs Laycock’s