DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 6 February 1941, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS

[Per Press Association] HAMILTON, February 5. Th e of Charles Harold Longley, 39, invalidity pensioner, of Manunui, on a charge of murdering Jeremiah O’Sullivan, on September 22. 1940, commenced at th e Supreme Court, Hamilton, to-day. before Mr Justice Smith. Mr H. T. Gillies and Mr J. R. Fitzgerald appeared for the Crown. Longley being represented by Mr W. J. King and Mr D. H. Hall. The starting point of the tragedy, said Mr Gillies, in his' address to the jury, was on January 11, 1940, when Longley took up the occupancy of O'Sullivan’s cottage. Relations between the iandlord and tenant were cordial, until the O’Sullivans received notice lo vacate their house. They, in turn, had to put out the Longley;. to gain the occupancy of their own house. Longleys mad e a request to have the house repaired belore they would leave. On September 22, notice to quit had already been served. Longley had been out shooting labbits, while O'Sullivan was working- on the property. The Longleys kept their car in a’ shed, and whil e tne family wa s away looking for another house, O’Sullivan came and put battens across the doorway of the garage. \ Longley, feeling his rights were infringed, knocked the battens away, and put the car into th e shed. O’Sullivan then came to the door of the cottage and shouted out, “Hey, Mrs Longley!” After some slight dispute with Mrs Longley, O'Sullivan said “You mongrel.” Longley walked to a recess. and picked up a pea-rifle. There was a plop, and O’Sullivan was shot through the eye, the bullet flattening against the skull. Death was instantaneous. Mrs Longley, who was at the door, afterwards said she could not see what had happened. Longley, after replacing the rifle, went to a neighbour’s place to ring for the police. When he reached the neighbour’s. Longley collapsed in a faint. When he recovered he remarked. "I did not moan to hurt him.” The rille was on old one, and what told against Longley wa s that he was a good shot. The question to decide was whether Longley intended to kill O’Sullivan Dr. A. B. Sturtevant, of Taumarunui, staled in evidence, that accused had suffered abdominal injuries following a blasting accident three or four year s ago. Sinc P then, he had complained of pains and inability’- to sleen. He was highly neurqtic, and would sit and gaze at nothing. He would star! at the least thing.

In answer lo a question from His Honour. witnes s said that Longley was not insane, but in a state of serious neurosis. He was highly strung and would easily be aroused at the slightest provocation.