MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1946, Page 7

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

ACCUSED INSANE AND UNABLE TO PLEAD. p.A. AUCKLAND, Feb. 14. When Phyllis Clara Norton, 23, came before Mr. Justice Callan and a jury to-day to stand trial on a charge of manslaughter of her infant child the unusual duty of deciding the prisoner’s mental ability to plead was cast on the jury. Counsel for the accused raised the question of the woman’s mental capacity to plead, and made application for a pronouncement on the point. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. Meredith) asked that a jury be empanelled for the purpose and the Judge concurred. , Mr. Meredith said the accused han thrashed her illegitimate child when it was ill, and the child had died. Medical evidence was given that the accused was feeble-minded. The Judge said that even if a deranged person answered to a plea on a crime, unless there was behind that plea a serious appreciation of what it meant, it would not be right for the Crown to take the piea. Without leaving the box the jury returned a verdict that accused WaS so insane as to be unable to plead. Accused was ordered by the Court to be kept in strict custody until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice was knowm.