EPILEPTIC AS CAR DRIVER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22203, 5 March 1934, Page 11

EPILEPTIC AS CAR DRIVER

DEATH OF FOUR MEN

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, January 19. On October 7, 1933, a car crashed into a crowd outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, killing four men. The driver of this car was charged at the Old Bailey with manslaughter. He was also charged with causing • grevious bodily harm to Aircraftsman Squibb, and making a false statement to obtain a driving license, namely, that he did not suffer from epilepsy. The prosecution suggested that .the accident was the result of an epileptic fit, and that Hills had a history of epilepsy going back to 1926. Dr W. R. Brain, of Harley street, a specialist in nervous diseases, called for the defence, said that Hills was now subject to epilepsy, and there was no question of any cure at present. He said that a man in an epileptic fit would have no control over a car. He was completely unconscious. Counsel: An attack may come on without any warning? Dr Brain: There is no, warning in a little over half of the cases. Counsel for the prosecution said the last thing lie wished to do was to press the charge of manslaughter. Mr Justice Charles, passing sentence, said that he regarded it as a very serious case.

"Although, quite properly, the manslaughter charges have not been pursued," ho said to Hills, "you were a potential danger on the road whenever you went out, and you would not have been on the road at all unless you had made these false statements. I cannot overlook it, and I must visit on you a short term of imprisonment. You will go to prison for three months in the Second Division, and your license will be endorsed and suspended for life."