SEPARATE TRIALS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21036, 12 February 1940, Page 8

SEPARATE TRIALS

HOTEL ROOM CASES CROWN OPPOSES MOTION ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE “SUICIDE PACT” MENTIONED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Monday A motion for separate trials was successfully moved in the Supreme Court when Francis Leonard Laurie, storeman, aged 39, and Josephine Norton Laycock, married woman, aged 34, appeared for trial before the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers. Laurie was charged with aiding and abetting in the suicide of his wife, Beatrice Florence Rita Laurie, on November 5, also with attempting to murder Mrs Laycock and with attempting to commit suicide. Mrs Laycock was charged with attempting to commit suicide.

The cases arose from the discovery of Laurie and Mrs Laycock in a hotel bedroom on November 6 with their wrists gashed. Mr Trevor Henry appeared for Laurie and Mrs R. S. Burt for Mrs Laycock. Mr V. R. Meredith conducted the case for the Crown. Both accused pleaded not guilty, and Mr Henry moved for separate trials. Alter His Honour had agreed to separate trials the charge against Laurie was proceed with and a jury empanelled. In moving for separate trials Mr Henry said there was a reasonable likelihood of one party or the other being prejudiced if they were tried together. His Honour: The Judge should be able to see that no injustice is done. Mr Henry pointed out that two of the charges against Laurie were of a serious nature and in no way affected the other accused. The case had attracted great public interest, and it was not human nature for a jury entirely to disabuse its mind of the facts surrounding the case. Mr Burt supported these contentions, but Mr Meredith opposed them, contending that if the possibility of prejudice existed it could be removed by proper directions from the Bench. His Honour said that although there was not much risk of injustice there was a possibility, and in his opinion the safer course was to have separate trials. Mr Meredith elected to proceed with the charges against Laurie. Mrs Laycock left the Court but was retained in custody. The circumstances leading up to what he referred to as a “suicide pact*’ between Laurie and Mrs Laycock were briefly traversed by Mr Meredith in his opening address to the jury.