MAREO TRIAL

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 47, 26 February 1936, Page 5

MAREO TRIAL

Alleged Murder of Wife CASE FOR THE DEFENCE BIG CROWD IN COURT TO-DAY (Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, This Day. When the Mareo tidal entered what is believed to be the final phase to-day tliere was the biggest gathering of the public to date. A queue was formed an hour prior to the opening of the doors at the men’s and women ’ s entrances. Mareo appeared composed, smiling frequently during the address of his counsel.

Resuming his address Mr O’Leary said that concerning the medicine lie bought for his wife Mareo had not been candid, but concerning the veronal he was candidness itself. “The Crown depends entirely on circumstantial evidence,” said Mr O’Leary, “and I submit it is not a reasonable inference that Mareo gave veronal to his wife. There are the other reasonable inferences which I will prove to you. ’ ’ He added that he could prove that death could have occurred through veronal taken innocently on Saturday morning. Mrs Mareo was of a highly nervous temperament and therefore susceptible to drugs. That small dose would affect her had been carefully forgotten by the Crown. Mrs Mareo was alone for two hours on Saturday morning. The defence submitted that during that time she found the veronal, took some, and that was the dose from which she died. It was not necessary for her to have a further dose on Saturday night.