ALLEGED MURDER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 October 1928, Page 7

ALLEGED MURDER

KYEBURN DIGGINGS CASE. i ’ HARDIE ON TRIAL. THIRTY CROWN WITNESSES. till- Tctegrspo —I'l'e-B' Association., DUNEDIN, Oct. 30. - William John Hardie pleaded, mot guilty in the Supreme Court to the charge of murdering Joe Leo®g Shun at Kyebum Diggings on July 17. When Hardie was escorted into-’ the dock .he appeared to l he hut pleaded not guilty in a. firm voice. Mr H-anl-o® appeared for him. Before the jury was empanelled the Grow®, exercised -twelve challenges and Mr Hanlon three. Mr Adams, Crown Prosecutor, in has opening remarks, said -that there had beem a certain amount of sensationalism i® -the public reports, 'and on behalf of the -Crown he urged the jurors to recognise -nothing but what would' mow bo produced in evidence. • Shun -had met his -death by bullet wounds. Two of ’the four wounds could have -caused death. There was no possibility of the defence proving self-defence. It was either murder or manslaughter. The Crown could not produce any actual spectator of -the -crime, but there was evidence which took them very cl-ose to the time when, the crime was committed, namely, that of Sue Pee, who was in -the hut when Hardie arrived and 'saw the deceased and Hardie | leave'together. ' Counsel, proceeding to trace Hardie’s movements, emphasised the importance of knowing what chance Hardie had. of obtaining gold, since two ounces were in his possession, when arrested. The Crown Prosecutor occupied three hours in laying -before -the Court and the jury the facts he intends to bring forward in the evidence of thirty witnesses to be. called for the Crown. . At the conclusion, of Mir Adams’ 'address evidence was -given by two of the witnesses, after Which the Court adjourned- till to-morrow morning.; The jury was accommodated for the night, under a police guard, at an hotel close to the Court. It is expected;'that the case will occupy four days.