TUHI SENTENCED TO DEATH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 217, 15 December 1880, Page 2

TUHI SENTENCED TO DEATH.

PEIS ONER’S^CONFESSION. [by telegraph.] Wellington, To-day

At the Supreme Court, Tuhi’s case was resumed. In addition to the previous confessions, which have been made public, Constable Taylor, stationed at Opunake, gave the following statement, which was made to me by Tuhi two days after the inquest was held Tuhi said as follows—- “ I know that I will come to some sudden death, in consequence of a dream I-had. I saw men foiling a tree on the top of my whare, and the wliare came down, with the exception of two posts, one at each end, and the ridge pole. I knew it was a dream of sudden death, either to me or some younger relation. I know now that the dream concerns myself.” Ho also stated —“ I had no intention of killing the woman. When we met, I said, ‘ where do you come from. ’ She did not understand. I continued to ask her. The woman spoke in English. I did not understand her She was frightened, and gave me money. . She gave me six shillings and fourpence. I was on my horse at the time when I received the money. She said she would tell the soldiers about me. 1 Was afraid of my crime of taking the money from the woman. I got off my horse and tied it to the flax. The woman ran away when she saw me tie up ray. horse. I ran after her, threw her down on the ground, and choked her. I thought that if I choked or strangled her she would die. I let her go, and a little while after she rose up. I then ran to her and cut (or stabbed) her throat, and choked her by the back of the neck and drove her along, bo that she might be a distance from the road. When she had gone a distance she fell, and I fell. I dragged her to a place whore there was a large quantity of flax, and there left her. I then went to catch my horse, and heard Honi Pibama’s buggies going along the road. When they had passed, I caught my horse and went. That’s all.” Evidence in Tuhi’s case being concluded, the Crown Prosecutor and the Counsel for defence addressed the jury. The Judge’s summing up lasted twenty minutes. The jury returned a verdict of “guilty,” and the Judge passed sentence of death.