ACQUITTED OF MURDER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 9

ACQUITTED OF MURDER

DEMONSTRATION IN COURT' SEVERAL WOMEN IN TEARS There tvus a demonstration in the Criminal Court in Brisbane on April u, when the jury returned a verdict of-not guilty in the ease against .John ]M.lp;ar Thomas Cottell, wood merchant, of Tooivong, who was charged with having wilfully murdered his wife, Gertie Cottell. on January 25. The verdict, was greeted with an outburst of applause from the body of the Court, and as Cottell was released from the dock. relatives, including liis brother-in-law, crowded about him. Several women wept. Cottell, who also burst into tears, is a one-legged returned soldier, who walks with the aid of crutches. As he left the Court building the demonstration was renewed. Karlv on the morning of January 25, the body of Mrs. Cottell was found lying on the floor of a bedroom at her home. Shu had been shot through the left breast. Accused also had a wound in his left breast where he had shot himself. In evidence, the accused said his wife had'told hint that she no longer loved him and was going away with another man. Witness got his revolver,, and pointed it at himself. His wife grabbed the revolver and pulled it towards herself, and it went off.