DEATH OF GIRL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23034, 11 May 1938, Page 18

DEATH OF GIRL

MOTORIST FINED £3O NEGLIGENT DRIVING CHARGE LICENCE DISQUALIFICATION [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Tuesday "In your case the jury found that the death of the injured person was caused by your negligent driving, and on the evidence that verdict was amply justified," said the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, in the Hamilton Supreme Court to-day, when Bernard Zinsli, aged 31, labourer, 'Je Kuiti, appeared for sentence 011 a charge of negligently driving a motor-car at le Kuiti and causing the death of lulna Margaret Walsh, aged 18. His Honor said that while the suggestion offered on accused's behalf that he was suddenly overtaken by vertigo could not bo accepted, it was a fact that he was suffering from an abscess in the ear, and that he had had a tiring day.

The Chief Justice said he was satistied that accused was suffering from fatigue, intensified by physical illness, and that 110 should not have been driving at all. His Honor felt satisfied, however, that accused did not appreciate his condition.

His Honor said the certainty that tho jury would convict where negligent driving was proved, and the knowledge that tho prohibition of the granting of a driving licence for a period of years would almost certainly follow a conviction, should in themselves operate as a strong deterrent against offences of this character, apart from the probability of a term of imprisonment being imposed. In the present case there Avas no suggestion of intoxication being responsible lor the accident. Accused was fined £3O and was ordered to pay tho costs of the prosecution, £26 17s. He was disqualified from holding a driver's licence for three years.