Christchurch Supreme Court

Inangahua Times, 11 May 1909, Page 2

Christchurch Supreme Court

The Connelly Cas). Pel Prasi Association,. • Christchurch. May i x The Criminal Sessions opened today. Judge Deoniston commenced on the large number of cases, but considered the district was to be complimented on the absence of serious crime. He was glad to note the considetablc diminution in sexual crimes in this and other districts, Referring to the charge of murder against Wm, Connelly, His Honor said it arose out of a Westport murder case, a case with which the Grand Jury wire no doubt-* acquainted. Undoubtedly a man had been done

to death, and they were aware or most of them were aware, that two men had been tried in Nelson on'the charge of murder and . that the evidence given was to a large extent that ol a man named Connelly, Two men' had been convicted of mall- ' slaughter and subsequently Connelly was charged in Westport and tried ia Hokitika for perjury for having fal&ely given evidence that j inculpated two men. The jury had convicted Connelly, who had afterwards made, a statement in which he practically admitted that his story was false and that he (Connelly)alone was present and did the man to death, In these circumstances, although the case pieserited many matters of interest and importance which required to be tried before the jury it was not accessary * for the Grand Jury to trouble themselves with the details of the case. It was sufficient for them that Connelly admitted that Jve was present and was 'aking a slight part in the transaction. That'' alone would satisfy them in putting Connelly >on his trial for manslaughter.. When in addition they had hisj; statement made . alter his trial for perjury,, in which he admitted he was alone there, then n His Honor's opinion that was

sufficient etound for them to .find'a true bill" J biV tfie'"ctiafge'bf'" murder, When a man was killed in the circumstances that the man in this case was and when there was no suggestion of accident it lay upon accused to saiis>fy the jury that the crime committed was less than murder. His Honour wished them to understand that his remarks only applied to the Giand Jury fioding of a prima facie case.- Accused's admissions were not proof of his guilt. He might have an explanation of the matter. Neither the finding of a trve bill nor the remarks, mads -by His Honor would preclude the Court or Jury finding that accused's statements in the matter were untrne. His Honoi's remarks were intended, he added to sHisfy the Grand Jury to find a true bill without going into the whole case, \yhich was very complicated and very elaborate, and so long as the Grand Tury were satisfitd after examination of-one qr-iwQ?tfrilr nesses that thtre was a priiik facie case they did not need to go finto all details,.. Subsequently the Gradd Jury found a true bill in the murder 'case, but threw out two of the other fifteen bill?.