GUILTY OF ASSAULT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 6

GUILTY OF ASSAULT

VERDICT IN GIBSON CASE. MANSLAUGHTER RULED OUT. [ Per Press Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Alay 5 In the Supreme Court to-day, Clarence George Gibson was found not guilty of manslaughter, but guilty, under provocation, of assault. Gibson is a relief worker and he was charged with committing manslaughter by unlawfully killing George Johan Christopher Banks, another relief worker, on the Summit Road on April 18. He was further charged with assault. Evidence was on the lines of the Lower Court. Air. Justice AlcGregor. in summing up, said that the jury should consider the assault charge first. He thought, that the jury would find that accused, when called a name hp resented, lost his temper and struck a blow. It was not a case for severe punishment, but it was a case where justice must be done between ihc parties. It was then necessary to consider whether the assault was the ?ause of Banks’ death. There was no doubt that the blow was tho cause of Banks falling over the wall. The loose nature of the brink may have been a contributing factor, but the fundamental cause of the fall was the blow struck by accused. Accused admitted that ho was quick tempered. That was the probable explanation of tho whole occurrence.