ACCUSED'S STAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23027, 3 May 1938, Page 14

ACCUSED'S STAND

NO DEFENCE OFFERED DIFFERENCE WITH COUNSEL VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY [BY TEI.EGRAPII —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Monday After a trial in which tho accused was not represented by counsel and presented no case for tho defence, Otto Robert Lahman, aged 50, was acquitted by a jury in the Supreme Court at Wellington to-day of unlawfully using an instrument with intent to procure a miscarriage. Tho offence was alleged to have been committed in Wellington on December 10. The accused was discharged. The accused pleaded not guilty and asked for counsel to represent him. In answer to Mr. Justice Reed he said tho reason why arrangements for him to be represented had not been made sooner was that lie had had "financial difficulty with Mr. Sievwright." Lahman told His Honor the reason he had not engaged counsel or applied for counsel to bo assigned to him sooner was that he had thought Mr. Sievwright would stand by him. His Honor remarked that perhaps Mr. Sievwright would take the case if ho were assigned to it. "Will you take it," ho asked Mr. A. B. Sievwright, who had been a bystander in the Court and who had stepped forward at the mention of his name from the Bench. "1 have made no preparation," Mr. Sievwright replied. "I informed the accused some two months ago what tho position would be. He has been on bail and has taken no steps to comply with tho conditions I imposed. About a week ago 1 told him ho must take other steps." "If the accused does not take the trouble to take these steps it is his own fault," said His Honor in commenting on the desirability of the accused being represented by counsel in view or the typo of evidence that was to be produced. "However, 1 will look after the case as well as 1 can." Accused declined to question any of tho witnesses and declined also to give evidence himself. "Don't be foolish; there is a certain amount of evidence against you," the Judge warned him. "1 have said I am not guilty, accused said. ... Accused declined an invitation to address the jury.