VICTIM OF DELUSIONS

Southland Times, Issue 22156, 26 October 1933, Page 7

VICTIM OF DELUSIONS

A DISTRESSING TRAGEDY. MOTHER KILLS SON. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, October 25. The tragic story of the murder of a five-year-old son by the mother was recounted in the Supreme Court today when Daisy Kayner Lander Busby was charged with the murder of her son Barry at Paeroa on September 21. Doctors will say Mrs Busby was suffering from melancholia and delusions and was incapable of knowing the nature and quality of her act and that she therefore was not criminally responsible, said the Crown Prosecutor, Mr Meredith.

The evidence given included that of Dr H. M. Buchanan, superintendent of the Mental Hospital, who said accused had delusions of unworthiness. She felt she had been a complete failure in life and a bad wife and mother. She felt she had passed on her attributes to the children and because of that her children were liable to be harmed by other people. It was for that reason she felt it would be better she should kill them all than that they should undergo future suffering. Witness said she was definitely insane and she thought at the time of the murder it was the right thing to do. Mr Justice Herdman said it was an exceedingly sad case. The jury would have nc difficulty in reaching the conclusion that accused was insane at the time of her action.

The jury, after a short retirement, found accused not guilty on the ground of insanity. The Judge ordered that she should be kept in custody in prison until the pleasure of the Minister was known.