MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Southland Times, Issue 25361, 13 August 1935, Page 7

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

TRUCK DRIVER ACQUITTED.

VEHICLE LEFT ON STREET.

(Per United Press Association.) New Plymouth, August 17. David Vincent Roguski, a firewood contractor, was to-day acquitted by a jury on a manslaughter charge. The indictment was that on April 27 Roguski left his unlighted motor truck, which could not be moved because the gears had jammed, parked with the rear jutting into a street, thereby causing the death of' Stanley Carlyon, a motor cyclist, who collided with the lorry. Roguski said that when the gear jammed he attempted to move the truck, but could not. He fixed a red reflector to the rear of the lorry, but on the wrong side, and went for mechanical assistance. Carlyon with a pillion rider, crashed into the rear of the lorry and died on the way to hospital. The jury returned to the court and stated it felt that a manslaughter charge was too severe and asked if the charge could be reduced. The Chief Justice (Sir Miohael Myers) said it could not. The jury retired, but returned almost immediately with a verdict of not guilty. ______________