FATAL SCUFFLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17738, 26 March 1932, Page 6

FATAL SCUFFLE

FIGHT AT HIKURANGI VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH The story of the HikurangL fatality, which resulted in the death of George Henry Hodkinson, following a scuffle on March 5, was told in the Whangarei Police Court on Thursday, when the adjourned inquest was resumed. Edward Steers, 55, a miner, was charged with unlawfully killing George Henry Hodkinson, thereby committing manslaughter. After hearing evidence, Mr G. N. Morris, S.M., returned a,verdict of'accidental death and dismissed the charge against Steers. The evidence showed that Steers and Hodkinson had a scuffle in the yard of a hotel. They had both fallen, Hodkinson being on top, and had then rolled on the ground. Hodkinson’s head had come in contact with the ground. In a statement made to the police, Steers said that Hodkinson had seethed determined to fight him. lie had tried to talk him out of it, but deceased struck him. Steers said he struck Hodkinson . only one blow, knocking him to the ground. He did not know until the following day that Hodkinson had died.

The medical evidence showed that death was due to failure of respiration following a fracture of the fifth •ervical vertebrae. The injury would have been caused by a forcible bending or twisting of the neck.

The magistrate said the evidence showed that the deceased was aggressive and there was nothing to suggest that Steers used abnormal force in protecting himself.

The manslaughter charge was aeeordngly dismissed.