RUSDEN MURDER CASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26709, 2 March 1948, Page 6

RUSDEN MURDER CASE

FURTHER WITNESSES HEARD CROSS-EXAMINED IN DETAIL P.A. AUCKLAND, Mar. 1. When the trial of Pansy Louise Frances Haskell, charged with the murder of Mrs Gladys Ruth Rusden, was resumed to-day counsel for the accused, Mr M. Robinson, cross-exam-ined Detective Sergeant James Bain McLean concerning the position o.f the window blinds at the house at Horotutu road, One Tree Hill, where Mrs Rusden’s body was found. Witness said that when he examined the house he did not realise the importance of the blinds. He saw the blinds were halfway down. Before anv photograph was taken of the house, the position of the blinds was disturbed. Survival After Blows Dr Walter Gilmour, pathologist, testified that Mrs Rusden f s head injuries must have been caused by a heavy blunt weapon. Blows were struck from behind. Blows on the forehead could have been inflicted when the deceased was lying down, He considered that Mrs Rusden survived for at least an hour after the blows were struck. Death most likely occurred between 11 a.m. and noon. Evidence that she saw the deceased’s husband. Rusden, board the brewery bus on his way to work about 7.25 a.m on June 5 was given by Mrs Beatrice Maud Bernhard, who was then nurse at the brewery. Clifford Cave Whatford Way, works manager at the brewery, produced a time card showing that Rusden had clocked in at 6.34 a.m. He said that this should have read 7.34 a.m. or thereabouts, as the electric clock had stopped and run slow because of power stoppages. His Honor: In other words; it is no record at all. Alleged Offer of Money Edward Walter Rix said he met the accused at Liberty House, Upper Queen street, about January, 1946. She learned that he had a police record, and offered him £2OO to "bump off” Mrs Rusden. He thought to himself that if she wanted to throw money away he would take it from her, but he had no intention of doing anything for her. She said she was madly in love with Rusden and that Mrs Rusden had caused her a lot of trouble. Early one morning in March, witness and the accused drove out to the One Tree Hill district and changed into military clothes. After the accused had got out of the car in Wheturangi road, he drove to the Rusden house, told Mrs Rusden her husband had been hurt in the military camp and brought her back. The car stalled on the corner of Wheturangi road, • and as he was getting out to crank it he saw the accused out of the corner of his eye getting into the back seat. She had her right arm raised as if she was going to hit Mrs Rusden, who was in front, on the head.

Witness said he threw his arm up and pushed Mrs Rusden, who fell out of the car on to the road, screaming. After they had driven off, the accused asked him why he had stopped her as she would not get “ a golden opportunity like that again.” Evidence of later propositions the accused made to him to kill Mrs Rusden was given by witness. He said she had offered him £SOO but later the price was “down to £30.” On April 2 of last year he met her at the Ferry Building in response to 'an advertisement. She said he would have to do “ the. job ” as the police were on the verge of finding who was implicated in the previous assault on Mrs Rusden, and that before the deceased could give further evidence of identification she would have to be “bumped off.”

Witness said he did not carry out the accused’s instructions, but when he later met her he “put on a bit of an act” and told her he had done the job. She was to meet him at Vulcan lane with sufficient money for him to get out of Auckland, but she did not come. When witness heard about the murder he went to the police and told them about the earlier assault on Mrs Rusden.

Cross-examined by Mr Robinson, witness said he married a few days after the hearing of the case in the Magistrate’s Court. To a suggestion that at that -time there was a considerable amount of discussion about his position in the case he said there was in the minds of some people. Mr Robinson: How long had you known your wife? Witness: Eight years. Mr Robinson: Were you living with her before you married her? Witness: Yes; nearly seven, years. Mr Robinson: Where did you go to live after leaving 10 Hayden street? Witness: I am not telling you because it implicates other people. “A Bit Personal ” Mr Robinson: You are hiding something back. Witness: No. I am not. I think you are getting a bit personal. His Honor: I think you have to admit that, Mr Robinson. Counsel: It is material, your Honor. When Mr Robinson was cross-exam-ining witness on a conviction in 1932, Mr Meredith intervened to say the conviction was quashed, and counsel knew it. . His Honor, to Mr Robinson: Then you had no right to mention it. Mr Robinson: Well, Sir, I mentioned it in the last trial without any comment. . ~ ... Questioned about his meetings with the accused after the advertisement appeared, witness .said “ the job was definitely to be dohe on the following Monday.” Mr Robinson: Would you be sur : prised to know that that was Easter Monday and that the day you said you bought the overalls was Good Friday, when the shops mould be shut Witness: I just cannot remember the dates. I have told the whole darn truth in this court . , . Witness said that on the night of the assault on Mrs Rusden he was going to drive her to the camp and explain everything to her husband if he had known the right way. If he had not got her out of the house the accused would have gone down herself. Asked to explain bruises on Mrs Rusden’s neck after the assault, the witness said he had given it some thought and had come to the conclusion that the accused might have done it. Mr Robinson will continue his crossexmination to-morrow.