NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 23 August 1929, Page 10

NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

LORRY DRIVER AND EMPLOYER CONVICTED. CIRCUMSTANCES OF. THE CASE. After two hours’ retirement the jury yesterday found a> young native named Rami Watson .and his employer, Louis | Albert Sarten, guilty of negligent driving ;so as to cause the death or John Poletti, and the accused were remanded in custody until to-morrow morning for sentence. On the alternative count of manslaughter the accused were found not guilty. The case was heayd before the Chief Justice (Hon. M. Myers) in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, Ihe charges arose out of an accident at Bell Block on the evening of June 11. wlien a well-known settler of Bell Block. Mr John Poletti, was knocked ' down hv a lorry driven by Watson and killed. ' The motor lorry had no lights at the time of the collision, and that fact was the basis of the charges laid against the two men. Both were charged with the crime of manslaughter by driving a. lorry at night without lights and causing the death of Mr Poletti, and they were also charged under the Motor Regulations with' driving negligently so as to cause the death of Poletti. Sarten, as the emplover of 'Watson, was also charged with aiding and abetting in the commission of the. other offences. The jury added a rider to their verdict. making a very strong recommendation to mercy on behalf of Watson. and a recommendation to mercy on iiehalf of Sarten. His Honour said he entirely agreed with the verdict, and thought it was a very proper one. Of the two men Sarten was certainly the more blameworthy, but he would give every consideration to the jury’s recommendation. Mr A. A. Bennett appeared for Watson and Mr J. H. She at- for Sarten.