Guilty of Manslaughter.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 53, 16 February 1921, Page 3

Guilty of Manslaughter.

MURDER IN PASSION, VERDICT AGAINST NEEDHAM. RECOMMENDED To MERCY. Auckland, Feb. 15. The second murder charge in the criminal calendar was continued this afternoon before Mr Justice Stringer ant] a jury at the Supreme Court, when T’liOnuis Needham. an elderly farmer, was tried for the alleged murder of his son, William Rawlins Needham, aged 17, on January 16. After further evidence, the case lor the defence was taken. Mr Endean, addressing the jury, said medical evidence would he given as to accused’s mental condition. Even if that were not accepted, it was open to the jury to say that there had been sufficient provocation to deprive an ordinary man of his self-control. Such a finding would reduce the charge to one of manslaughter. Mrs Needham, accused’s wife, said she had been married nearly 40 years. Her husband suffered from irritability and delusions. She corroborated her daughter’s statements as to his strange conduct. Three doctors were palled, and stated that, in their opinion, accused was subject to fits of insanity. The prosecution called three doctors, who gave evidence in rebuttal. After a retirement of one and a-half hours, the jurv returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter ,with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of accused’s age and temperament. Sentence was deferred.