KISSEL'S DEFENCE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2728, 22 August 1923, Page 5

KISSEL'S DEFENCE.

CHARGES AGAINST MURDERED M£V. REVOLTING RELATIONS SUGGESTED, [Per Association 1 CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night, Mr P. C. Wilding', who appeared with Mr Ackland, for the defence of Kissel, charged with the murder of MacKenzie, in opening for the defence, said it might appear that the facts were simple, but their very simplicity suggested they had not been heard. The facts to be made known would show that Kissel was the unfortunate victim and that the death of MacKenzie was only an incident in the affair.

The defenco would sej> out to show that Kissel was in a state of mind that did not render him lawfully liable for his acts. The state of mind could be arrived at only from certain facts. Those adduced by the Crown were clear and accepted. He would classify the facts to show the state of mind as follows: —Personal history; family history; the story of the crime; and the state of tho mind before and after the act.

The story opened when the boy, at tho age of nine, met MacKenzie at Lyttelton, in connection with Sunday school work. Sinco that time the relations between the man and the boy had been or a revolting character. MacKenzie had used religion to obtain an influence over Kissel, He had been wickedly cunning. In course of time MacKenzie had induced the bay to visit Quail Island, where MacKcnzie's sinister influence did not languish. MacKenzie did not lose sight of the boy till he was 16, when the boy was well grounded in his per. nicious habit. He obtained work in the country. In tho meantime MacKenzie wrote affectionato letters to the boy. 'The habits inculcated led to a condition of sub-normality, and so it was counsel contended, MacKenzie held his sway in Kissel's life. Then the fateful day arrived in which the culminating point of a particular state of mind was farmed.