SHOOTING AT TOMANAWK

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1932, Page 9

SHOOTING AT TOMANAWK

CHARGE OF MURDER LAID TRIAL OF O’CONNOR COMMENCES. LAW REGARDING DRUNKENNESS. CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. Lewis William O'Connor was charged before Mr. Justice Kennedy at the Supreme Court to-day with the murder of Findlay Douglas Buchanan at Tomahawk on March 30. He pleaded not guilty. Counsel for both the Crown and the accused freely exercised their right of challenge in the selection of the jury. Addressing the grand jury, his Honour said there might be evidence of the consumption of much liquor by the person accused, but they would bear in mind that until the contrary was proved every person was presumed to intend the natural consequences of his own act. If a man under the influence of liquor intended to shoot another and did. shoot his drunken intent did not make it less a crime than if he was sober.

Evidence was led to show that shortly after midnight on March 29 O’Connor went to Buchanan’s house and asked for a cigarette. Buchanan gave him one and advised him to go home. They parted, from all accounts, on good terms. Shortly afterwards O’Connor returned, it was alleged, and shot Buchanan when Buchanan opened the door to him. Witnesses spoke of the drunken condition of O'Connor about the time of the occurrence.

The case will probably be concluded to-morrow. The jury was--locked up for the night.