Senior Constable
Charles Norman CURSON
YEAR OF DEATH
1974
JURISDICTION
Victoria
DETAILS OF DEATH
About 3.20 pm Tuesday 8 January 1974 Senior Constable Curson was standing on the steps at the main entrance to Flinders Street Railway Station talking to a newspaper seller. Whilst they spoke a young woman came up and spoke to the Constable who turned towards her. At that moment James Henry Belsey walked up behind him produced a knife and cut the policeman’s throat. As Curson slumped to the footpath Belsey calmly walked away crossed Flinders Street and entered Young Jackson’s Hotel. He was arrested a short time later. Meanwhile Curson had been removed to Prince Henry’s Hospital with a massive wound to his throat and died two hours later. It was later learned that Belsey had a lengthy history of mental disorder and had frequently threatened to kill a policeman. He was charged with Curson’s murder but acquitted on the grounds of insanity and was then sentenced to be detained at the Governor’s pleasure.
