MURDER CHARGE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20311, 22 May 1934, Page 7

MURDER CHARGE.

Evidence in Porangahau Case. Ter Press Association. NAPIER, May 22 The hearing of the charge tf murder preferred against Henry Capewell was continued in the Supreme Court to-day. before Mr Justice Blair. The accused is charged with murdering John Williams. a cook, at Porangahau. on March 11 last. _ . , Dr Cuthfcert Raymond, of Waipukurau, gave evidence concerning Williams’s injuries. With regard to the fatal wound he thought it could not have been self-inflicted. It would have required good force to drive a knife to the depth of the wound. Capewell smelt strongly of drink when he examined him soon after the struggle, but his speech was quite normal. He appeared to be suffering from shock. He saw no marks or blood on accused. John William Helm, foreman at the station, said that shortly before the fatal struggle he saw Williams and Capewell struggling on the grass. It was a very harmless struggle and he did not see any blows struck. He and Budge separated them. After a while Capewell said he would like to go to bed. Witness replied that Williams was in his bed and had been there half an hour. Capewell said. “Oh, well l e * him have half an hour.” “ Manslaughter or Nothing.” At the conclusion of the Crown’s case, his Honor remarked that* it was either a case of manslaughter, or nothing. Mr Harper, for the accused: “Under the circumstances I will not call evidence.” The Crown Prosecutor: “It would be wrong of me as representing the Crown to ask the jury to convict on the murder charge.”