JUDGE’S UNUSUAL ACTION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 August 1935, Page 5

JUDGE’S UNUSUAL ACTION

YOUTH ON MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE) DISAIISSAL OF THE CASE (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NAPIER, Aug. 23. The rather unusual procedure of discharging an accused person before the Crown’s case was concluded was adopted by the judge in the Supreme Court at Napier this afternoon when Arthur John Walker, aged 19, a labourer of Hastings, appeared before Mr. Justice Reed on a charge of manslaughter arising out of the death of Cedric Woodfield at Hastings on May 3, resulting from the discharge of. a rifle when in company with several other youths in a whare. In discharging Walker, his Honour said it was clear that the crime of manslaughter had been committed technically, but it was obvious that a mistake had been.made by Walker in thinking that the rifle was unloaded. He had, therefore, decided to Use the discretion granted him by Statute and discharged him. .. ... In doing so, however, his Honour warned Walker of the seriousness of such an offence.