CONVICTED OF SHOOTING

Patea Mail, Volume LIII, 31 July 1933, Page 4

CONVICTED OF SHOOTING

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE.MEECEE SEiRVICE STATION , CRIME.. ' ~ -

Charged with attempting to murder James Pennington Bates at a Mercer service station on April 14, Christopher Niven, aged 19, electrician, was tried in the Auckland Supreme- Court on Thursday last. There w r ere alternative 'counts of discharging a revolver with intent to disable, of assault so as to cause actual bodily harm, of causing bodily harm under such circumstances that had death resulted accused would have been of manslaughter, and x of. common assault. Ho- was. found guilty of shooting with intent to disable.

The assistant Crown Prosecutor (Mr.Hubble) said it was alleged Niven obtained petrol for his motor’ car at Bates J service station, but did not make payment. Upon being remonstrated with, Niven was alleged to have drawn a revolver "and fired two shots, one of which seriously wounded Bates, who was subsequently , for’’ some time a patient in the Auckland Hospital. Although a. satisfactory, recovery had been made by the injured man it had not been found possible to remove the bullet, which was lodged in the pelvis. The jury found Niven guilty of discharging a .revolver, with ‘ intent to disable, but not guilty of attempted murder and the other- alternative charges. Sentence was deferred. -