MANSLAUGHTER VERDICT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 53, 4 March 1939, Page 10

MANSLAUGHTER VERDICT

CHARGE AGAINST GRACE REMANDED FOR SENTENCE [ Per Pies* Association. I GISBORNE, March 3. After four and a-quarter hours’ conideration the jury in the Supreme Court to-night returned a verdict of manslaughter agai<nst Rewi Kerehi, alias Dave Grace, aged 42, who stood his trial on a charge of murdering his wife, Matekino Grace, aged 32, at Ruparoa on December 10 last. The prisoner was remanded by Mr. Justice Northcroft until Monday for sentence. e -I must say that I entirely agree with the propriety of your verdict.” said the Judge. He complimented the defence counsel on the capable address to the jury. The defence had suggested that the woman had been suffering from injuries received days previously which might have caused the haemorrhage. However, that was inconsistent with the fact that the woman returned in a normal and happy frame of mind after a day in Ruatoria. The evidence raised was the strongest inference that the real cause of the haemorrhage arose from the events on December 8. The bloodstains were unimportant except that the fact that an attempt had been made to remove them could be considered as sinister. Drink might have an important bearing on the case because if it was proved that the accused was hopelessly drunk it ab-

solved him from a murder charge as it was considered that a drunken man was incapable of forming an intention. However, none of the witnesses were prepared to say that the accused was intoxicatd. Referring to accused’s statements, the Judge said that Grace told the police an untruth in saying that he had no drink on December 2.