THE KOERBIN CASE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 August 1928, Page 4

THE KOERBIN CASE.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED 'MURDER. STATEMENT FOR THE DEFENCE I . (By Telegraph—Press Association.) • AVELLINGTON, August 1. Evidence for the Crown in the Koerbin case concluded this morning. In presenting the case or the de fence, Mr Sievwiight said that the. accused woman denied- any attempt to injure. Koerbin. The parties * were not on good terms and Airs Koerbin’si evidence would indicate that she wanted' to do something, that would stop her husband’s' conduct. Poison was obtained for showing her husband that she would retaliate. The action was only a gesture. The poison was left in the scullery so that 'her husband could see it. She thought it was a harmless powder, but wanted her husband to think it was dangerous. She placed the stuff in a, box where she knew her husband would find it, and that a settlement ol differences! would result. She left the dining-room door open so that Koerbin corn'd see her putting stuff in the food. She. knew hue would not eat it. She would deny that she pur glass in the. food,, and the only inference could be that Koerbin put- the glass in the food. Koerbin’s vomiting was diue to hisi civer-indulgence in liquor taken at parties. His other sickness was due to a cold. ’ ... AA’hen the accused was giving evident:;?, Mr Macassey objected to the line of examination, saying that it, was known that there had been domestic trouble. ' His Honour/ remarked: The worse you make out Koerbin to bei, Mr Sievright, the stronger you will make tlie case against yourself.' You show your client had all the more reason to get rid of him.” . Under cross-examination accused said she did not think the poison would do harm, nor did she tell the detectives she had pat poison in the food simply to frighten him. Although her husbund was objectionable, she did not leave the house because she had two children. She considered her husband worth about £50,000. Air. Sievwright asked the jury to dismiss the charge of attempted murder. He submitted there was no evidence that accused even administered poison or that she even did anything with intent to iirfftre or annoy her husband. There*,was nothing secretive about her actions. Air. Alacassey, Crown Prosecutor, declared the defence was the most extraordinary he had ever heard.

NOT GUILTY OF ATTEAIPTED AIURDER.

•V verdict of not guilty of attempted murder, but guilty of _ attempting to administer poison with intent to injure or annoy was returned hy the jury at the trial of Marion Koerbin, which concluded to-day. The jury brought in a strong recommendation to mercy.