MANSLAUGHTER VERDICT IN CASEIN WHICH A BROTHER SHOT SISTER

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 November 1950, Page 6

MANSLAUGHTER VERDICT IN CASEIN WHICH A BROTHER SHOT SISTER

GREYMOUTH, Last Night (PA).— After nearly an hour's retirement tonight a jury in the Greymouth Supreme Court found William Hainey Hillhouse guilty of the manslaughter of his sister, Miss Margaret Hillhouse. Accused, aged 21, a mine trucker, ol Runanga, was remanded for sentence. Counsel for defence, Mr. Taylor, addressing the jury, said that had the son and father walked home from the hotel together, the killing would never have happened. He summed up the evidence already given and said that it was apparent that the rifle had been accidentally discharged. Mr. Kitchingham, Crown Prosecutor, said that it was 12 weeks since (he shooting and today was the first time it had been referred to as accidental He asked the jury to disregard tne suggestion that the shooting was accidental.

His Honour then addressed the jury The constable, Malloy, said he haa only just arrived outside the house, when he heard the report of a shot and accused came from the front door carrying a rifle, which witness snatened from him.

Witness added that in reply to ques tions the accused said: “I have shot Margaret; I had to do it; I could not help it.” Under cross examination by Mr. E. B. E. Taylor, counsel for accused, the constable said accused appeared to be a little dazed and shocked after the rifle was snatched from him. Witness and the accused were the only persons not excited after the shooting. Counsel: Did you get the iftipression when Hillhouse broke down in Hie car that he was just realising the significance of the happening? Witness: He appeared 10 become aware of the seriousness of the events. Di S. Barclay, surgeon-superinten-dent of the Grey Hospital, said that when a statement was taken from the gal at the hospital on the evening of August 12. she appeared to be rational. Death, which followed an operation necessitated by her condition, was due to damage to the brain caused by the passage of a builet . DEPOSITIONS AT HOSPITAL. Depositions taken from the victim of the shooting, Margaret Rose Hillhouse, aged 18 ,a machinist, at the Giey Hospital on the night of August 112, were read by the Court Registrar, Mr F. S. Collier, who had conducted a bedside Court. The depositions, which Look the form of question and answer, were; * How did you come to be injured?” Aanswer: "My brother shot me.” “Where did he shoot you?”—At Runanga (she pointed to her face). see anyone point a gun at you?”—I can remember it, but I did not cce anyone. “Do you remember seeing a rifle before or after?”—Before. “Who had the rifle?”—Waldo (the accused’s nickname). FATHER’S EVIDENCE. William Hainey Hillhouse, senr., said he had previous trouble with his son, and when the son returned home on the night in question from a public house he told him he would “kick him out, bag and baggage.” Witness said he saw his son in a public house and tcld him to come home. They left the house together, but separated when they got outside Witness reached home first, and told his wife and daughter that “he had enough of the son and I shall kick im out, bag and baggage.” When the son came home he told him to go. accused says shooting was ACCIDENTAL The defence would say that the shooting was accidental, said counsel for the accused. He called the accused to give evidence. Mr. Taylor: Why did you shoot your sister? Accused; I did not shoot her. Why did the gun go off?—l do not know. It was an accident. What were you doing when it went off?—My right hand was through the open bedroom doorway and 1 was trying to get the switch to put on the light. Did you want to shoot Margaret?— No sir. Detailing events when he was present at the bedside court at the hospital, the accused said he obtained permission to speak to his sister. He went over to her and she put her hand out to him. He went over and kissed her. She put her arm around him, and asked how he was. He replied that he was all right, but he did not recollect what, she said. Cross-examined by Mr. Kitchingham, accused said there had been, trouble at his home since he was a child. He had ff drink at home when he was eight, and began drinking at hotels when he was 15. The accused added that he got into an agitated state on the night of the 'hooting when his father struck his mother across the chest, and ne became very excited—his memory was very vague from that time. The rifle went off for some reason entirely unknown to himsei’.