MOTORIST ACQUITTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22568, 11 May 1935, Page 14

MOTORIST ACQUITTED

FATALITY ON CHRISTMAS EVE SEVERAL PEOPLE KNOCKED DOWN. (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 10. The sequel to a fatal accident on Christmas Eve was the trial to-day of James Killen, a farmer, of Matangi, on a charge of negligent driving, causing the death of Rose Morrison. The accused got into his car, which was parked in the street, and it bounded forward on to the footpath, and plunged along for 77 feet. Mrs Morrison, who was doing her Christmas shopping, was knocked down, as well as seven others, who had to be taken to hospital. Others were knocked down, but were not seriously hurt. The prosecutor said the main issue was whether the accused should have made certain that the car was not in gear before he pressed the self-starter. It was for the jury to decide, remembering that the street was crowded on the busiest night of the year, whether the accused took reasonable care. The police evidence was that the accused was sober, and in a statement he said he had never drunk intoxicants in his life. He could not remember whether he put the car out of gear when he parked it. The jury, after a brief retirement, returned a verdict of not guilty.