MURDER CHARGE

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21601, 11 December 1941, Page 6

MURDER CHARGE

HEARING BEGUN

DEATH OF MARRIED WOMAN STATEMENTS BY ACCUSED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) PALMERSTON N„ Thursday. In the Magistrate’s Court, before justices of the peace. Ronald Herbert Mellar, aged 24. railway surfaceman, married, was charged with the murder of Mrs Ida Gwen Speight on November 25. Mr H. R. Cooper appeared for the Crown and Mr L. G. H. Sinclair for accused. Sixteen Crown witnesses are being called. Little public interest was manifest at the opening proceedings. Mr Cooper, in outlining the case, said Mellar made two statements. In one he denied any knowledge of the matter and in the second he admitted the whole crime. Evidence was given by Mrs Minnie Barr that her daughter was Mellar’s wife and had been in hospital for some time. Their two children resided with witness. Mellar called at 6 p.m. on November 25 to see them. Dr. Pullar, pathologist, described Mrs Speight’s injuries, saying there was a hammer near the body. A light claw hammer was put in as an exhibit. Witness said that such an instrument could have caused wounds such as were on Mrs Speight’s head. Grea'/ Violence Used

Witness added that the injuries were inflicted by numerous blows with a blunt instrument. Great violence was used. Bloodstains found on a man’s clothing sent to witness belonged to the same group as the blood of Mrs Speight and of accused.

Dr. C. Williams said he examined Mrs Speight before her death. He saw beside her a hammer with the handle wrapped in a boy’s shirt. Mrs C. Alty, widow, said that Mellar boarded with her. On November 25 he went out soon after 6 p.m. F. W. McLeod, musician, who boarded at Mrs Alty’s, said he heard steps proceeding to accused’s room at about 9.25 at night. Later he heard the bathroom tap running. Lois Frecklington, hospital nurse, said Mellar visited his wife on the night of November 25 from 6.30 till 7.15 p.m. Fingerprint Evidence

Senior-Sergeant E. Dinnie, fingerprint expert, produced photographs of the Speights’ house, of fingerprints on a glass found in the kitchen, also of accused’s fingerprints, and said those on the glass were identical with two of accused’s. Witness said he was absolutely certain the fingerprints were made by the same person. Constable Gunn said that at 9.5 on the night of November 25 when he 'went to the Speights’ house there was no answer to his knocks at the front door. At the second knock a person rode a cycle along the drive at. a very fast pace from the back of the house. Witness called on the cyclist to stop and ran after him, but he failed to stop. Witness then heard groans, and ran to the back door, which was open. In the dining room he found Mrs Speight injured and unconscious. A hammer in a shirt was beside her. The luncheon adjournment was then taken.