THE WANGANUI MURDER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 330, 29 November 1917, Page 3

THE WANGANUI MURDER.

SENTENCED TO DEATH. Wanganui. November 28. The trial of Frank Edward Bennier for the murder of his wife at Kaungaroa on September 10 «.v continued at the Supreme Court todav’ before Mr Justice Edwards. , Prisoner gave evidence and staled that he, did not remember the tragedy, lie admitted prior l<< the tragedy tehiiiy l’io police sergeant that ne would “do fc-‘ ids wife. ’ but stated that 1.-e was not sober at ; he tiiilo, He might also have told another ii).‘”i that lie would ‘'set fl a his wife,” but did,not remember it. Counsel for prisoner contended t.liati the crime, was committed iliii'iug a fit of impulsive insanity. The Crown Prosecutor, occupied only ten minutes in his address to the jury and contended that the crime was the act of a revengeful ;man who was not insane.

His Honour’s summing up occupied twenty minutes. Mr Justice Edwards said the ease was extraordinary in many ways. Prisoner had attacked six persons in the house before attacking lus wife. The evidence showed that prisoner was emotional ami of low intellectual ability. It was curious that no export evidence had been called for i the defence, counsel relying on medical authorities to support his plea of impulsive insanity. The jury after three horns' retirement returned a verdict of guilty. Prisoner made no reply when asked had he anything to say before sentence was passed. His Honour then put on the black cap and pronounced sentenced of death.