TWO MEN SHOT DEAD

Grey River Argus, 1 March 1945, Page 4

TWO MEN SHOT DEAD

MANSLAUGHTER VERDICT (Rec. 12.10) SYDNEY, Feb 28 A sentence of 18 years’ imprisonment was nassed by Mr. Justice Martin on Ronald Eastwood aged 20, a 1 waterside worker, who was convicted of manslaughter in connection with the deaths of two men, bv shooting, in a taxi, on November 23. The victims were Ronald Pugh, aged 22, a labourer, who was a companion of Eastwood; and Harry Nicholls, aged 43, a taxi driver. Pugh was shot while the taxi was being driven through suburbs. Nicholls was shot when he tried to escape after Pugh was shot. Eastwood was charged with murder. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter. Passing sentence, the Judge severely criticised counsel’s plea that Eastwood was “ a product of the firearms age,” and that he could not be blamed for carrying a loaded revolver. The Judge said that any young men who subscribed to that doctrine would find that it did not appeal to the courts. Young men had many privileges to-day which their fathers had not; but roaming at will with a loaded revolver' was not one of them.