SUPREME COURT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 19 October 1937, Page 4

SUPREME COURT

HUSBAND ON TRIAL CHARGE OF MURDER fß.v Telegraph —Preps Association! DUNEDIN, 18th October. In his charge to the Grand Jury at the opening of the criminal sitting to-day, Mr Justice Kennedy said the list of charges was not a long one, but included charges of great gravity—one of murder and one of attempted murder. A man was charged with the murder of his wife at Otokia by shooting her. He borrowed some cartridges, and after calling his wife outside the home, where she was nursing her dying daughter, he entered the bedroom and fired the gun, shooting his wife in the abdomen, and then shooting himself, He was in hospital till recently. True bills were returned in all cases. The trial commenced of Arthur Richardson, charged with the murder of his wife, Jessie Richardson, at Otokia on 17th July.' The accused, who was defended by Mr O. G. Stevens, pleaded not guilty. The Crown Prosculor, Mr Adams, stated that the facts as they related to the killing and the accused's complicity were not likely to be disputed, the real point being a question of the accused’s mental condition. He understood the defence would be simply insanity. Witnesses would testify that he was about the house, where his wife was nursing a dying daughter. On the day of the tragedy he called to his wife to come out of their daughter’s bedroom. He then opened the door and shot her at a range of seven feet. He then rushed out and shot himself in the chest.

Dr. Stewart, house surgeon at the hospital, said he attended the accused for two months and saw nothing . abnormal about him.