NAVAL OFFICER SENTENCED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17949, 29 November 1932, Page 3

NAVAL OFFICER SENTENCED

SIX MONTHS’ GAOL CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER LIMASOL (Cyprus), Oct. 8. Commander J. G. Sutton, of EI.M.S. Resource, was to-day found guilty of the manslaughter of M. Apos’tolides, a Cypriote hotel proprietor, lie was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Notice of appeal was given, and the sentence was suspended pending the hearing of the appeal. Commander Sutton was released on bail of £ 300. | The court refused to grant an application for compensation made on behalf of the widow and children of M. Apostolides. The verdict was followed by a dramatic incident, Commander Sutton exclaiming emphatically, “I did not s-trike the man. I have a clear conscience about this matter.” Commander Sutton was committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter, following an inquiry into the death of Apostolides from a fracture of the skull. His injuries were alleged to have been caused by a blow from Commander Sutton during a dispute. The accused from the first, pleaded not guilty. The ease for the defenci 1 was that Apostolides had received his injuries by falling downstairs. Evidence was given during the trial that after a dispute at the hotel Apostolides was found some distance away, with his face bleeding, and that he died from his Injuries. Apostolides was alleged to have asked the accused, “Why did you beat me?” On the other hand, a policeman stated that Apostolides told him ttiat lie had no complaint to make.

Counsel- for the defence demanded an acquittal on the ‘ground* of this statement. lie further alleged that the witnesses for the prosecution had been prejudiced by the hope that they might share in any compensation which might follow conviction, and by their hatred of Englishmen resulting from riots here a year ago.