MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18844, 6 April 1931, Page 7

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

SON SHOOTS MOTHER. DISTRESSING AFFAIR IN CHRISTCHURCH. By Telegraph—f’ress Association CHRISTCHURCH, April 5. Arthur Charles Knight, aged 21, shot his mother, Kate Knight, aged 47, at her home in St. Albans Street at . 10.40 last night, and then placing the muzzle of the shot gun in his mouth, shot himself dead. Knight was injured in a motorcycle collision in 1929, losing a foot from the ankle, and was suffering from paralysis of the right arm. He became very depressed owing to his physical condition, and was committed to Sunnyside Mental Hospital on April 9, until December, 1930. He was treated at the institution on December 10, and his mother then applied for his discharge, as she thought he was doing well. The application was not granted, but he was released on probation for six months to live with his mother. Knight was left at home on Saturday night, while his mother and her two sisters, Mrs E. M. Inwood, who was on a holiday visit, and Margaret, the latter who lived with Mrs Knight, went out for the evening. They returned about 10.40. Mrs Knight went towards the kitchen to prepare supper, and as she reached the kitchen door, Knight, in the darkness, fired at her, inflicting terrible injuries. She fell dying to the floor. Mrs In wood, who had followed her sister, rushed forward and Knight shot at her, but missed. [ Mrs Inwood rushed at Knight, but he retreated through the kitchen door, locked it, and then shot himself. Mrs Knight spoke to her sister, but died in a few moments. At the inquest to-day. a verdict was returned that Kate Knight died from a shot wound inflicted by Arthur Charles Knight, when he was insane, and that Arthur Charles Knight died from a gun shot wound, self-inflicted, when insane. Mr H. A. Young. S.M., was Coroner. In her evidence Mrs Inwood said that Mrs Knight was a very loving and ; devoted mother, who held to the belief that the boy was recovering. The son had his meals alone, and rarely spoke to his mother or her. His sisters were afraid of him, especially on his bad days. The gun was a prized possession of the young man before the accident, and he had been very fond of shooting. Mrs Knight had said that she allowed the gun to remain in the boy’s room because it pleased him to have it there. She had previously buried all the cartridges. Dr. McKillop, superintendent of Sunnyside, said that the mother had been 'warned that Knight might commit suicide if he became depressed. There was no evidence of homicidal tendency.