JUDGE INSTRUCTS JURY: EVIDENCE INSUFFICIENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18149, 7 May 1927, Page 4

JUDGE INSTRUCTS JURY: EVIDENCE INSUFFICIENT.

(Special to the '‘Star.*’) AUCKLAND, Mav 7 The jury, instructed by Mr Justicd Stringer that there was insufficient evidence to warrant a conviction, returned a verdict of not guilty at the trial in the Supreme Court yesterday of Jackson Sutcliffe, who was charged with indecently assaulting a girl aged ten at New Lynn on January 26. Accused was a married man, aged thirty-eight, and was in business as a fruiterer and greengrocer at New Lynn. The Crown Prosecutor said that ho would Admit that the child's story that accused assaulted her when she went into the shop to buy lettuce was uncon. roborated evidence. For the defence there was a comp* pleto denial, it being pointed out that accused’s wife was in the back of tho shop at the time, and through a partition window could observe anythin* that transpired. His Honor commented that tha Crown Prosecutor had admitted the lack of corroborative evidence, and said it was unlikely that a man would act as alleged with his wife as a witness. In his opinion, there was insufficient evidence to warrant a conviction on so grave a charge.

The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict as stated.