CHILD DIES AFTER SHOOTING

2 Men Charged

     Two men were charged in the city watchhouse yesterday with the murder of Pamela Edith Craik, 5½, of Abbotsford st, North Melbourne, who died at Children's Hospital yesterday from injuries she received the previous night when a .45 calibre bullet, fired at random, penetrated her scalp when she was with her mother in Barkly st, Carlton.

     The child had been left with Mrs Craik's parents, living in Barkly st, on Monday afternoon, and when Mr and Mrs Craik were returning to that address about 6pm a street disturbance occurred outside an hotel at the corner of Grattan and Rathdown sts, Carlton, near Barkly st.

     Mrs Craik reached her parents' home after Mr Craik, and she complained of 2 facial lacerations, believed to have been caused during the disturbance. Going away in his motor-truck, Mr Craik later returned with another man, after which Mrs Craik went into the street with Pamela.

     Seeing people on the other side of the street who resembled persons she believed to have caused her facial lacerations about 6pm, Mrs Craik and the child walked toward them. Mrs Craik was followed by her husband and his companion. In the darkness 2 shots were fired. One went into the air and the other struck the child.

     Hailing a passing motorist, Mr and Mrs Craik took the child to Children's Hospital, where she was admitted in a critical condition. Meanwhile police were notified, and when homicide squad detectives, under Det-insp W. E. Davis and Det-sgt S. H. McGuffie, began investigations they detained the child's father overnight. Yesterday afternoon another man was taken from an hotel in Flinders st, city, to Russell st headquarters for questioning.

     Later at the city watchhouse Donald Lawrence Craik, 30, motor wrecker and father of the child, of Abbotsford st. North Melbourne, and Michael Morrisroe, 37, baker, of King st, North Melbourne, were charged with the murder of the child.