MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19498, 5 June 1925, Page 9

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

ADEQUACY' OF SENTENCE QUESTIONED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, June 4. (Received June 4, at 8.40 p.m.) The Full Court reserved judgment in tho appeal by the Crown against the ; -ortenco imposed on Frank Withers lor Hie manslaughter of his wife. The main ground of tne appeal was that the sentence was inadequate. Mrs Kathlees Withers, aged 32, wai found shot dead in a house at Kingston, near Tumworth, in February last. i'rutiK. Withers, her husband, aged 35, who was managing a grazing property nearby, was arrested. In a statement made to the police Withers said that lie had charged his wife with unfaithfulness, and had iepeatedly asked her to return home. She refused, whereupon he shot her dead. At the trial the accused raid his wife was guilty r of misconduct with Edward Missen tor whom she worked. On the night of the tragedy be went to see bis wife at Missen’s house, and us Missen had previously threatened to shoot him he took a revolver for protection. While talking to his wife she bumped tho revolver, which exploded, killing her. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter under intense provocation, and Withers was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.