CROWN CASE CONCLUDED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19550, 4 February 1938, Page 14

CROWN CASE CONCLUDED

ARUNDEL MURDER TRIAL STATEMENT BY ACCUSED JURY TO VISIT SCENE (Per Press Association.) TIMARU, last night. At the Supreme Court to-day, the trial of Randall Reginald David Smith of having, at Arundel, on September 10, murdered William. Gaby, 73 years of age, was continued. Detective-Ser-geant Biekerdike gave evidence as to the arrest of the accused, and pro-. duced a statement written by the accused.

In the statement, the accused said he stayed at Mount Somers on September 9. He reached Arundel at 7 p.m. on September 10. About an hour later he went into the store and took the money from the till, and also a cheque book.

“I was just leaving when I met a man at the back door,” the statemeht continued. “He made some remark and, if I remember rightly, he made a dash at me. I stepped into the store and picked up a piece of wood in the kitchen. By this time the man was standing outside the back door. I think I pushed him back with my hand. Hq said something, but I cannot remember clearly what it was. I raised the wood and struck at him, and he fell to the ground. “I do not remember clearly what happened just then. I have a slight recollection that I picked him up and dragged him into the kitchen. He appeared to be stunned. I cannot remember whether he was bleeding or not. He did not say anything, but gave a bit of a groan. I then noticed that he was an old man. “The three bootlaces shown to me by the detectives are what I had on me at the time I went into the store. I cannot say what I did with these, but I know I left them at the store. At this time I was very excited and do not remember clearly what happened. “I then closed the back door and left. After leaving the store I went on to the main road and either walked or ran towards Geraldine, as I was frightened. After walking for about four miles I kind of cooled off and when a car came along I stepped into the middle of the road and he gave me a lift to Timaru.” The accused then described his movements in Timaru. This concluded the Crown case and the court adjourned to enable the jury to visit the scene of the crime. The case will probably conclude tomorrow.