MOTOR FATALITIES.
"CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE." NOT "MANS]^UGHTE,R." "Would the Minister for Justice alter the law in. the direction indicated?" asked Mr Vornon H. Reed (Bay of Islands), in tho House, of Jteprcsontatives yesterday, referring to MrJustice Stringer's statement at the Supreme Court, Hamilton, with regard to tho charge of manslaughter ugainst J O Johnstone, arising out of a motor accident, that it was a matter for regret that tho word "manslaughter" was used. Jurors regarded manslaughter as a modified form of mur'der and were, in ■ consequence, less likely to convict. The judge expressed the opinion that tho law should be filtered, and tho charge should b* desienated as "criminal negligence. Juries would not. then havo the same i-oluctance to convict as at vrssent. The Hon. E. P. Lee: Unforuaately, tho Crimes Amendment Act has already been passed and assented to by the Governor; and I am afraid it is too late' to deal with the matter this session. Ho added, however, that he would have tho question oonsider?d when any further amendment to the Crimes Act wau brought down.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10685, 3 September 1920, Page 6
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178MOTOR FATALITIES. New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10685, 3 September 1920, Page 6
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