ALLEGED MURDER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 February 1925, Page 8

ALLEGED MURDER.

DEATH OF A WOMAN

CHARGE AGAINST HUSBAND. <hY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATIONAUCKLAND. Feb II On. a. charge of murdering his wile >t Remuera. on October 5, James Simpkin stood his trial in the Supreme Court to-day. On. the evening ■->! October 5 screams startled residents in I.Gnmera. and Mrs. Simpkin and her husband weie found lying on the paveiient. both bleeding irom wounds. Mrs. Simpkin was dead and her husband was. removed to hospital, where lie recovered. Mr. Meredith, for the Crown, said it sras clear that Simpkin and his wife bad arranged to meet, that evening and then he had cut her throat with a .azor. Their married life had not teen happy. There had been considt able quarrelling. The evidence would show that the prisoner ill-treated his wife and on one occasion -die- comilained that he had beaten her. ’‘Ventnailv she declined to live with him. _ Evidence was given, as to the finding if the dead body of the wife with her husband lying beside her. The jury then viewed the scene of the tragedy. Medical evidence showed that deceased had recently undergone three operations for abdomenal trouble, which would have a profound effect on the nervous, -system. The mother of the dead woman detailed her daughter’s unhappy married life as previously recounted at tlie inquest. The ea.se for the Crown is unfinished, the jury being locked up for the night.