Crew Tense After Steward’s Death (Press, 19 February 1964)

On February 18, 1964, the Wellington Magistrate’s Court began hearing a murder charge against a 20-year-old deckhand, John Vincent, in relation to the death of the chief steward of the New Zealand Star, David Alan Rowe. The ship's master, Ifor Bodvel Owen, testified that following Rowe's death, the crew had requested to keep watch on "monkey island" in pairs rather than in the forecastle head. Owen also recounted events leading up to Rowe's death, including social gatherings on the ship and the fact that the crew did not receive an extra beer ration on Christmas, which was customary. Owen described how, on January 1, after being alerted by the captain’s steward, he found Rowe in his cabin badly injured, with blood covering his head, bedding, and showing signs of severe trauma. Despite efforts to check on the crew and find anyone with bloodstains, Rowe succumbed to his injuries at 9:25 a.m. that same day and was buried at sea shortly thereafter. An investigation commenced, led by Owen and the first officer. Vincent, who was among the last crew members to be interviewed, initially claimed to have been at a party in the messroom when ice-cream was thrown through a skylight. However, he later admitted to spending the night of December 26 in Rowe’s cabin, though he was embarrassed to reveal this earlier. Witnesses provided further insights into Rowe’s character and Vincent's actions. A carpenter noted the absence of a stanchion from a rack after Rowe's death. Rowe was identified as homosexual by second steward William Mathews, who had witnessed Vincent leaving Rowe's cabin the following morning. Additionally, a union representative, Roland Granville, testified about a conversation he had with Vincent that raised alarm. Vincent expressed disdain for homosexuals and made a statement that implied satisfaction with Rowe’s death, leading Granville to advise him against making such remarks. The court heard from a range of witnesses related to the case, with twelve witnesses presented by the Crown on the first day and an expectation of fifteen more the following day. The complexity of the case was underscored by the crew dynamics and the social settings aboard the ship during the days leading to the incident.

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