MAREO TRIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22449, 19 June 1936, Page 10

MAREO TRIAL

COST TO THE COUNTRY NOT MORE THAN £IOOO DEFENCE ASSISTED 'AUSTRALIAN WITNESSES No action to secure a reprieve has ret been taken by counsel for Eric Mareo, who was sentenced to death by Mr. Justice Callan in the Supreme Court on Wednesday night, after he had been found guilty at a re-trial on a charge of murdering his wife, Thelma Clarice Mareo. The prisoner has not been interviewed by bis counsel since the verdict was given. Senior counsel for the defence, Mr. H. F. O'Leary, K.C., of "Wellington, left for the South by train yesterday afternoon. The names of Betty Marco and Graham Mareo have been pencilled in as passengers 011 a steamer which is to leave for London next month. On behalf ' of their relatives in England Mr. J. L. Conlau, of Auckland, is making tho arrangements, bub it is not yet definite whether they will leave the country in July or later. Relatives havo stated that an opportunity will be given Graham Mareo to outer any profession he wishes, mediciuo, insurance and banking being among those mentioned. Although long and involved the two trials of. Mareo havo not been expensive, as murder trials are judged, and it is estimated that £IOOO would cover comfortably tho cost to the Crown, which has borne both its own expenses and a great part of thoso of the defence. At tho original trial tho expenses of senior counsel for tho defence 'were found privately, and those of the two junior counsel, Mr.""Trovor Henry and Mr. K. C. Aekins, were paid by the State, according to scale. For the second trial, however, the wholo of the expenses of the defence, including tho cost of bringing to Auckland witnesses from Australia and country districts, are being paid by the Crown. In addition to the fees of counsel tho cost of paying and accommodating tho jury, and ordinary witnesses' expenses, it is understood that Betty and Graham Mareo were paid 30s a week each by the Crown pending tho result of the second trial. A weekly sum 'was also paid to tho principal Crown witness, Miss Freda Stark, for a similar period. Witnesses' expenses generally, however, have been comparatively low, as the majority are Auckland residents and were required for only one or two days.