CHARGE OF MURDER

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 56, 3 February 1927, Page 2

CHARGE OF MURDER

YOUTH STANDS HIS TRIAL. INTEREST TO NEW ZEALAND. Received February 2, 1.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 1. Six women jurors were empanelled when John Donald Merrett, formerly of New Zealand, stood his trial at Edinburgh for the murder of his mother. He appeared 'in dock wearing an overcoat and with horn-rimmed spectacles. He pleaded not guilty. Mrs Sutherland, a housemaid, gave evidence that when she left Mrs Merrett writing in the sitting-room John was reading, she heard a shot and a scream. John entered the kitchen and said that his mother had shot herself, adding: “I have been wasting mother’s money. I think she is worried . ’ ’ Mrs Sutherland found Mrs Merrett lying on the floor, near a revolver, at the bureau. She denied telling a detective that she saw a revolver falling from Mrs Merrett’s hand. Mrs Merrett had told her that 6he had had a hard life since losing her husband during the Russian revolution. She was devoted to John, and they appeared to be on tho most affectionate terms.

Inspector Fleming read John’s statement declaring that his mother complained that he was spending too much money and neglecting his studies. His mother was writing when ho pointed out a wrongly addressed envelope, she said: “Go away, you bother me.” “I went to the other side of the room to get some books, and heard a report. I saw mother falling on tho floor.”

Inspector Fleming said that the deceased’s banking account was overdrawn. He questioned accused regarding three cheques amounting to £BB, dated after liis mother’s admission to hospital. John said that his mother had signed the cheques, and he had filled in tho amounts, which was a customary arrangement. Merrett was also charged with forging his mother’s signature to cheques totalling £457. Merrett explained that he bought a revolver and 50 cartridges for £5, intending to use them while on a holiday in France. His mother 'took the revolver on March 13 last and he did not see it again. Inspector Fleming added that other cheques and counterfoils were missing. Tire case was adjourned.—A. and N.Z. cable.

After a lapse of eight months a Now Zealander, John Merrett, aged 19, was arrested early in December on a charge of murdering his mother, Mrs Bertha Merrett, aged 56. Both went abroad from New Zealand to complete the education for the diplomatic service. The son entered Edinburgh University, and the mother took a three months’ lease of a flat in a fashionable quarter of Edinburgh. A week afterwards it was enterod and Mrs Merrett was found shot, Sho lingered for a fortnight and died without regaining consciousness. Some six years ago Mrs Merrett came to Now Zealand from Russia, where her husband was employed. She separated from him and took up her residence in Havelock North. Later she went to live at Oania.ru, sending her son to the VYaitaki Boys’ High School. Previous to entering the Waitaki Boys’ High School he had a serious fall from a cycle and as a result was in hospital with injuries to head a#d nose. This prevented him participating in most sports, although he was an excellent swimmer and was extremely popular among his class mates. Tho son was particularly venturesome. On one occasion he created a mild sensation by a foolhardy expedition in a motor boat.