Man Charged With Murder Of Wife

Northern Advocate, 13 March 1947, Page 7

Man Charged With Murder Of Wife

AUCKLAND, This Day

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day The story or mciaents in a home at Avondale was told in the Police Court today when Charles Andrew Vazey, 51, pottery worker, was charged with the murder of his wife, Sarah Purdie Vazey, on February 25. Mr V. R. Meredith appears for the Crown and Mr K. C. Aekins for the accused.

Evidence was given by an elderly widow, Nancy Boyd Davis, aunt of Mrs Vazey, that she lived with the Vazeys in Great North Road, Avondale, since June, 1945.

Accused had just come out of a mental hospital, where he had been a voluntary patient. About 10 months after she went to stay with the Vazeys, accused’s health began to get worse again and he complained of head noises. On February 17 she heard two loud bangs in the house. ' Vazey appeared from th? bathroom and said he had tried to commit suicide by taking out the electric light bulb. He said he had failed and the lights had fused. Vgzey often threatened to commit suicide. YELL IN KITCHEN Witness said that on the Sunday prior to Mrs Vazey’s death accused was very melancholy. He said he felt he simply could not carry on with life. Witness said that on the night of the tragedy she heard a yell in the kitchenette. She saw Vazey battering his wife’s, head with a hammer and knocking her on the neck. Mrs Vazey was lying on the floor.' Witness struggled with him and shouted for help. Several times accused struck witness on the head. She was a little dizzy and started ' to struggle with him again. She did not get the hammer. A neighbour, accompanied by a young man, then appeared and they took the hammer from Vazey. RAZOR IN HAND She understood they had him well guarded. Mrs Vazey was laid on the bed. Vazey appeared and had his back to the bed when he turned round. Witness saw he had a razor in his hand. Witness said Vazey pushed her away and drew the razor across his wife’s throat. Witness tried to get the razor before he did it. She shouted for assistance. The two neighbours pushed him out. Cross-examined, she said the Vazeys were happily married. She expressed the opinion that lack of promised promotion in his work and disappointments one after the other caused his mental breakdown at the beginning. (Proceeding.)