MOTORIST GUILTY
NEGLIGENCE CAUSING DEATH PEDESTRIAN CROSSING RULES [BV TrXECUAPH —press' association] CHMSTCHURCH. Thursday In tlie Supreme Court "William Robert Connor was found guilty by a jury of negligently driving a motoroar in Worcester Street on the evening of June 16. and thereby causing the death of William Frederick Soper. The prisoner was remanded for sentence. Summing up, Mr. Justice. Northcroft referred to a comparatively recent development in traffic control —the pedestrian crossing. This, he said, had become necessary owing to the extraordinary danger to pedestrians in crossing roads used by busy traffic. The special regulation was designed to give complete immunity to a pedestrian and required a motorist not only to give way, but to handle liis vehicle in such manner as to he able to stop before reaching a crossing if necessary. Accused, in his statement, had said lie sounded his warning device, but the pedestrian continued as though lie had not heard it. The inference of that statement was that the pedestrian failed to get out of the motorist's way, and His Honor suggested that this might provide an insight to the mentality of the driver. "It is highly indecent, not to say, impudent, for a motorist approaching a pedestrian crossing to take that view.'' said the Judge. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty after a retirement of two hours and 10 minutes.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 11
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228MOTORIST GUILTY New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 11
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