MURDER CHARGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24542, 26 March 1943, Page 2

MURDER CHARGE

THE ASHBUBTON CASE YOUTH AGAIN REMANDED (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday Charged with the murder of Mrs. Wilhelmina Webster, taxi-driver, of Ashburton, on March 16, John Hector MeAulay, labourer, aged 17 years and 9 months, who was arrested at a'.skating rink in Ashburton late on the afternoon of March 17, appeared on remand before Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day. A. request that accused might be made available for medical observation if necessary by witnesses for the defence was made by his counsel. On the application of SubInspector W. H. Duulop, accused* was remanded until April 1. Mr. Dunlop said that the police would not be ready to proceed then. The Court was crowded when accused entered the dock. All seats at the real of the Court were occupied and a number of people were standing. The spectators included a number of women and several soldiers. Mr. D. W. Russell, of Chnstchurch, and Mr. V. W. Russell, of Ashburton, | appeared for accused. After Sub-Inspector Dunlop had applied for a remand, Mr. Russell re-

quested that accused might be made available ior medical observation by witnesses for the defence. The magistrate said there was no question of that as counsel was entitled to see his client at any time in custody. He could remand him for medical observation. Mr. Russell replied that the question might arise of medical witnesses for the defence. Mr. Dunlop said there was no objection to that as far as the Crown was concerned. That part was being attended to now. Any mental expert could have access to accused. The charred body of Mrs. Webster, who was reported missigg on Tuesday morning, March 16, was found in a disused pit behind a house in Tinwald next day. Mrs. Webster's car had been found abandoned on the Tuesday morning-