Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 23 November 1954, page 5


Crown Blames Shirley Beiger

For Fatal Shooting

SYDNEY, Monday.

Tile [HibJc gallery at the Central Criminal Court was packed when Sydney model, Shirley PaU'icia''l$ciju; jr, entered the dock this morning to

face her trial on a charge of murder.

Dressed in smart black frock , out wearing no hat, Leger close down several times and sobbed quietly during the Crown POSTcutor's opening address.

She pleaded not guilty to Shaving murdered bookmaker's clerk, Arthur Barry Griffith, > 25, of Primrose Avenue, Rosebery.

Griffith was shot' in the head

near Chequers Restaurant, King Street, City, .ç-n.î'thc night ofAugust 9, . of a ? ' *

Senior Crown prosecutor, Mr. W. J, Knight; addressing the jury, said sympathy would be aroused by the fact that Berger was a young woman, and not unattractive." '.

Describing the events before Griffith's death, Mr. Knight said it was important for the jury. to determine the course of the bullet the position in which the rifle yum held, and how far away the weapon was when discharged.

Early on the night of August 9, Griffith left Beiger's Hut, telling her 'he was going to 'a' dentist, Mr; Knight said

. Later! Beiger's mother had driven . here to a . place near Chequers Restaurant, and" then saw; Griffith, accompanied by a young" woman , named S Gill Daniels, go inside the restaurant. i Mr. Knight said Beiger had become angry and jealous. She

had "made a scene in the restaurant, and had demanded back a kt from Griffith.

She had, then returned to the list. She then went to the room of a man named Lee, and took' a rifle and cartridges.

- She . loaded and cocked the file and took it in; the car with her to the corner of King and Pitt Streets.".

Her mother went to the restaurant and accompanied Grif; with - back - to e the Sar, said MAKnight. , ' (V ,vt"Grifllth was in front, and standing on the footpath alongside the back window of the car, when he was shot, he said

Beiger had claimed that when Griffith put his head in the car window a few words look place

between them.

She had told police that she, asked him to return to the flat with her.

Mr. Knight said Beiger., had alleged that Griffith then pushed her and therefore went off. at 5

He said the Crown would show], that Beiger had acted with reck-; less indifference to human life when she "set the stage as she did,' "I ..!'

He said I that whether Beiger had consciously pulled the trigger or whether her hand had tightened around the trigger, if she '"WOB- pushed by Griffith, did not come: into the case, t ..... ,

"Unless Bolger had had Ursave herself , ft 6in. something, there could *> be no question of selfdefence.' he-said. - v.

Mr. Knight said that in a written statement Beiger claimed she had taken the gun with the intention of- lolling Griffith that; if he didn't come with her, she

would shoot herself.

Before writing this statement,

Bolger had given a different ver.

sion.

Asked by police why she had 'loaded the gun. if she did not intend to shoot Griffith, Berger had replied: 'I don't know. I was so upset' I was prepared to do anything," Mr. Knight said.

Mr. Knight said the CrcjWii would submit that the nature of Griffith's injuries indicated that

the' Ocean, Vigor! Griffith's- sleep.

¡"ït\'vfp'dldf be impossible, In view of those facts, that she was intending to fire a shot" at herscreen sa Mr. Knight..

The heaving was adjourned suitstilfto-morrow. ., , '