MURDER TRIAL
INSANITY PROVED MENTAL PATIENT'S DEATH (P.A.) NELSON, Tuesday^ A murder trial was disposed of in under an hour and a-half before Mr. Justice Northcroft to-day: The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of not guilty, the reason being that accused was insane.
The charge of murder was made against a patient of the Ngawhatu Mental Hospital, who was alleged to have killed another patient by striking 1 xirii on the head and arms with the spoke of a cart-wheel. The evidence showed that accused became annoyed by the noise made by other patients on the morning of September 1. He entered the room of the deceased, by the window, inflicting injuries which resulted in death three days later.
Evidence was given by the medical superintendent of the hospital and the assistant medical officer that accused was insane on September 1 and was still insane, being unlikely to recover. Summing up, His Honor said the medical evidence was clear that accused did the act but did not know he was doing wrong. He ordered that accused be kept in custody at the pleasure of the Minister of Justice.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24749, 24 November 1943, Page 2
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189MURDER TRIAL New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24749, 24 November 1943, Page 2
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