Death Penalty

For Murderer of A.D.O.

McDonald

From Our Own Correspondent.

RABAUL, April 18 CHIEF Judge D. S. Wanliss yesterday sentenced to death the former native constable Sipei, who was found guilty of the murder of A.D.O. Edward Colin Mc- Donald at Ambunti, at the end of Feb ruary.

It was disclosed during the hearing of the case that McDonald arrived at Am bunti from Angoram on February 24, with a native constable named Bei. The follow ing day Acting Patrol Officer Hepburn arrived by the Govt. schooner Thetis, and went into quarters at the Patrol Officer’s bungalow, where the deceased was already in residence.

Just after dawn of the morning of the 28th., Hepburn heard a report coming from McDonald’s room, and immediately after heard the A.D.O. cry, “My God, I’m shot.” Hepburn jumped out of bed and ran into McDonald’s room. He saw at a glance that McDonald was fatally wound ed and dashed out of the room in time to see a native in police uniform dis appearing around the kitchen corner. He gave chase, calling to the figure to stop; but the native continued on and climbed down the slope of a cliff.

Hepburn returned to McDonald, who

was unconscious; medical assistance was sent for, but the A.D.O. died shortly after wards.

The accused pleaded provocation and gave evidence, corroborated in some in stances by fellow police-boys, to the effect that the deceased had assaulted him after an argument. It was alleged that after the assault the accused was made to travel in a canoe, towed behind the launch for three days. Another incident, an un successful claim for a dog by Sipei was also mentioned. These incidents, the de fence claimed, constituted a series of in dignities which led up to the accused first planning suicide, and then the mur der of the deceased and his own suicide.

Sipei in his evidence tendered a full confession of the crime, and described his attempted suicide, first by stabbing with a small knife and then by throwing himself from a tree which rendered him unconscious.

After carefully weighing the evidence, His Honour the Chief Judge returned a verdict of guilty and later passed a sen tence of death upon the accused.

Mr. Maunsell-Turner appeared for the Crown and Mr. F. W. Mantle A.D.O.

Rabaul, for the defence.