Murder Trial 48 Witnesses Heard (Press, 2 July 1969)

The Crown case against 21-year-old Michael Wayne Frelan, accused of murdering 38-year-old Morris Jury, concluded in the Supreme Court in Auckland on July 1, 1969, after 48 witnesses provided evidence. Frelan, a saddler, has pleaded not guilty to the charge that he murdered Jury on or around March 20, 1969. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Henry with a jury composed of 10 men and two women. The defence is represented by Mr K. Ryan and the Crown by Mr D. S. Morris. Witnesses recounted various statements made by Frelan. Stanley Rountree, a leather worker, testified that Frelan expressed uncertainty about his involvement in a death on multiple occasions, stating that he had been present at a flat in Ponsonby during a struggle and heard a gasping sound. Roderick Mac Neil recalled that Frelan had described waking up to an indecent assault and was concerned he had killed a “queer.” Additional testimonies revealed Frelan's incriminating statements. Taxi driver Bryan Harrison relayed that a passenger resembling Frelan mentioned having killed Jury and reported details of wrapping Jury's underpants around his neck. Similarly, taxi driver William Vincent Scott reported Frelan’s comments about his disdain for "pansies" and stated that Frelan openly confessed to killing Jury when Scott picked him up on the night of April 5. Frelan's own account to police illustrated a chaotic sequence of events. He indicated that he had returned to a flat where Jury was present, recounting how he dozed off on a couch, only to be awakened by Jury urging him to move to the bed. Frelan described the altercation escalating as he reportedly forced Jury onto the bed, punching him repeatedly while Jury held up a pair of underpants. Frelan insisted that he had not realised the seriousness of the situation or that Jury was dead until he learned about it from the news the following Monday. Detective Inspector Bruce Thomas Newton Hutton initiated inquiries into Jury's death starting March 23. He recounted that he received a call on the night of April 5, instructing him to contact Frelan. Upon attending the Central Police Station, Frelan confessed to Hutton, saying, "I wish to tell you I murdered Morris Jury," providing a timeline of events on the night of the incident. As the courtroom proceedings prepare to transition to the defence's side, the trial showcases the harrowing nature of the testimony and the complexity surrounding the events leading to Jury's untimely death. The legal proceedings are set to continue, with the defence case expected to present its arguments the following day.

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