NELSON TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26214, 26 July 1946, Page 9

NELSON TRAGEDY

VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER POLICE WORK COMMENDED (P.A.) NELSON, July 25. A verdict of guilty of manslaughter with a recommendation to mercy was returned by the jury in the Supreme Court at Nelson to-day, when the trial of Patrick Wilfred Hardy, aged 18, on a charge of murdering Rangi Tai Otimi on June 20 was completed. The jury was absent for 50 minutes. Mr Justice Fair said that the recommendation, which he understood to be on account of the youth of the accused, would be given the fullest weight. The accused was remanded for sentence later.

Before the court adjourned, his Honor said he wished to express, on behalf of the community and the court, appreciation of the thorough, fair, and able way in which the circumstances of the case had been investigated. He paid a tribute to Constable P. J. Magee, who. by his observation when he had no reason to suspect what was to happen, noted so well a person he met that he retained the details in his memory so that he could give a description later. The Dominion had reason to be proud of the reputation of its police for fairness and efficiency which he thought was unexcelled. There were other officers who had shown the same thoroughness in their investigations, the greater part of which fell on Detective Sergeant J. J Murray. So long as offences were investigated so promptly and efficiently, and conducted so fairly. New Zealand would maintain its reputation for the low incidence of crime.