GUILTY ON RETRIAL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 214, 19 August 1931, Page 5

GUILTY ON RETRIAL

Vj INDECENT ASSAULT PRISONER REMANDED FOR i SENTENCE , i"'.-' ■ ■ ■■'—■ — ' '[ ;, Press' Association.- i Copyright. ; f ' '■'., ■" ■' ■ GISBORNE, To-day. The re-trial of William Alexander Johnston, who Was charged with attempted unlawful carnal knowledge of a gift" aged 12 and alternatively with indecently assaulting the child, was heard in the Supreme Court to-day. Johnston pleaded not guilty to both charges. {■■ : n. At the last session of the SupremeCourt Johnston was found guilty, but » motion was lodged seeking a new trial on the lymadSf..that the judge misdirected the "jury in summing up. The .Court of Appeal decided it had Up power to make such an order, but application was then, made to the Gayernor-General-in-Council, and a retrial was ordered., , After- evidence had been heard today the judge pointed out that the in*dictment included two counts. Regarding the alleged carnal knowledge ' charge his Honour said he was satisfled from the medical evidence that this could not be sustained and therefore the jury would not need to Worry about the matter. The jury's attention would therefore be directed to. the question whether Johnston indecently assaulted the girl. The* jury returned a verdict of guilty and the' sentence was l postponed.