A RECKLESS MOTORIST.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14406, 17 May 1917, Page 7

A RECKLESS MOTORIST.

CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER

SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

At the Supreme Court, Dunedin, William LiuorTShicl was charged with manslaughter' in connection with the death of Neil" McC-ulloch on- February 14th.- Death resulted from injuries sustained in a collision between the accused's motor cycle and McCulloct's push bike. , The jury, after 25 minutes' retirement, returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation that the accused sliould be dealt wifn leniently on account of his youth and the absence of a sense' of responsibility. Mr Hanlon said accused was 22 years old, and had nob arrived at the age when one could appreciate responsibility.

The Crown Prosecutor said that since McCulloclf's death The accused had been guilty of furious driving, by which the accused himself was thrown and seriously injured. The police agreed not to prosecute in that matter on the understanding thai he would not use the carl or cycle till the present case was decided. That undertaking was given, but a few days later the accused was seen driving a motor. The Judge said that such recklessness as the accused had been guilty of should be put down: He had every desire to give expression to the jury's recommendation, but it was his duty to impose a reasonable term of imprisonment. He would make it as light as he could. The'accused w^as sentenced to six months' hard labour.