MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1931, Page 9

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

MOTOR ALLEGEDLY STOLEN

HASTINGS MAN DENIES GUILT.

fatal collision with cyclist.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hastings, Last Night. A sequel to a motor accident in which a young man was killed at Hastings on May 30 was heard at the Hastings Court this morning when Edward Robert Kellett was charged with negligently driving a car, thereby causing the death of Raymond Bennett Smith. Kellett was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was refused. , Mr. A. M. Mowlcm, S.M., was on the bench, and Mr. 11. 0. Baird presided as coroner over the inquest which was held simultaneously. . Mr. S. Averill, for accused, said the charge was the outcome of an allegation that Smith met his death by being knocked down by a car driven by two men who did not own it and who immediately disappeared after the fatality. Rani Kamu said he drove a car to Cornwall Park and watched hockey matches there. In the meantime the car disapPe Sergeant Doggett gave evidence that after the accident he could not locate tn driver of the car. Vincent Laird saw a cyclist whirlecl through the air and ” nd “ machine and a car. Laird did no the horn sounded, and estimated the sp of the car at 30 miles. • Other witnesses gave evidence of seeing the accident, one stating that be saw a man running away, though he was not cer tain whether it was accused. Detective Farquharson questioned Kelle t on May 30. Kellett denied being the occupant of the car concerned m the colli sion but said he was close to the scene when it occurred. He rushed to assist and afterwards went home. Kellett denied hav ing stolen a car. . . . The detective on June 19 again interviewed Kellett, who then admitted going to Cornwall Park to see the hockey. While there he met a young Maori whose name he did not know and who asked him to go for a ride. They went in a three-seater car, the Alaori driving. Kellett said they bad better take the car back and they decided to do so, but on the way the collision occurred. Kellett gave a hand in removing the car and when he looked up, the Maori had gone. Kellett heard someone say “He’s dead!” so he decided to go as he did not wish to be implicated. The detective continued that the following day Kellett made yet another statement admitting he himself took the car from Cornwall Park and drove it away. Explaining the accident he said he expected the motor-cycle to give way but as it did not ho swerved io the right but could not avoid the collision. When told the man was dead he was frightened and went off. No one else was in the car with him. Concluding the inquest the coroner returned a verdict that death was due to in juries sustained in a collision between a motor-cycle ridden by Smith and a car driven by Edward Robert Kellett. Kellett pleaded not guilty to the charge and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was refused.