SWANSON MURDER TRIAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 May 1938, Page 7

SWANSON MURDER TRIAL.

FATAL SCENE DESCRIBED (By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. Following the conclusion of the Crown case in the trial for the murder at Swanson of his father of Francis Borgia .Spensley, aged 19, before Mr. Justice Fair and a jury the case for the defence was presented this afternoon. The evidence for the Crown followed the lines of the lower court hearing. Mr. V. K. Meredith is prosecuting and with him is Air. N. 1. {Smith. Air. Allan J. Moody is conducting the defence. The first witness for the defence was accused. He said he was about four years old when his mother died and he and his father had lived in “a shack’’ at .Swanson for two years. He would work from perhaps 5 a.m. —according to the number of cows to be milked —until sometimes after dark. His father, he said, generally was of good temper, but when he “got wild” he became violent, and witness would be thrashed with a tea tree stick about as thick us a man’s thumb. At such times he went in fear of his father. Witness described incidents which led up to his father’s death. The evening before the father went out. When his father came home, he accused witness of having broken into a room which was kept locked. A heated argument ensued as the result of which witness received a thrashing with the same stick. The next morning he got up, milked five cows, separated and came back. When he had got “things going,” he went to tell his father. There were further words about the locked room. His father said he was going to thrash him until he (witness) told the truth. Witness lost his temper and said he was not going to stand it any longer. His father began to get out of bed. He was frightened and picked up a loaded gun, which was lying in the corner. He brought it up, and it must have gone off. Then he must have reloaded the gun and fired again, but he could not remember. When he realised what he had done, he was frightened and did not know wiiat to do. After further witnesses -were heard the evidence was concluded. Counsels’ addresses and the Judge’s summing up will take place to-morrow.