SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 53, 4 March 1901, Page 8

SUPREME COURT.

V MAORI TRAGEDY,

CHARGE OP WIFE MURDER

TRIAL IN THE SUPREME COURT.

"At the Supreme Court criminal sittings to-day, before His Honor the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), and a jury of twelve, a Maori man named Rawiri Te Ua appeared in the dock to answer to the grave charge of murder. Rawiri, a tall, strongly-built, black-bearded Maori, was indicted with that he did on or about December^, at Miranda kill and slay one Hihi Kiwi (his wife). Prisoner pleaded not guilty. _ The Hon. J. A. Tole, Crown solicitor, conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr J. E. Reed. Mr George Brown acted as inter-

preter. Mr Tole said that the prisoner was charged with the murder of his wife at Miranda. They were riding- on horseback, returning to their homes, ■when it is alleged the woman was attacked by her husband, and so beaten that she died. A Maori boy, who was out looking for sheep, would give evidence to the effect thai he saw the man knock the woman about, and dash her head on the stones of the beach along which they were travelling- from Miranda to their home. Lhe prisoner, as the jury would see, was a tall, powerful, athletic man. His age was about 35 years of age; the nge of the dead woman would be about 30 years. Very serious wounds were observed on the woman's head and body when she was discovered lying on the beach. She was brought back to the store at the Miranda in an unconscious condition, and died early the next morning. The woman was buried, but the body was exhumed, and it was founa the Wound at the back of the ear sustained by the woman would have been sufficient to cause death. The first witness called was Tamati Wlremu, a Maori, who deposed that he kept a store at the Miranda, which Is on the shores of the Thames Gulf. He knew the prisoner and his wife (the deceased) well. He remembered them coming to his store about 27th December. The prisoner and another native brought couple of sacks of wool to sell. Witness bought one sack of wool from the prisoner, and paid 13/7 for it. The prisoner and his wife remained at witness' house that day till between 5 and G o'clock in the evening. Witness did not stop with them all day; he went out. The prisoner and Hihi Kiwi had some drink that day; it was given to them by ' witness's wife; he did not actually sec: them drinking. They went away on horseback; witness accompanied them part of the way to their home. Hihi Kiwi was a cousin of witness's; she called out that she wished to say something to him, and lie went on with her. Eawiri went on ahead after a while, and disappeared from witness's view. Witness the woman on the beach near Mirat|da; the couple were returning to their home at Tapapakanga, which might be from 7 to 10 mifes distant. They had a nearer home at Puwhenua, but on this occasion they were going to the more distant kainga. The track was along the sea beach. Prisoner rejoined them, and said to his wife: "Hi, let us go on quickly, as it is getting dark." They cantered off, and witness started home. He looked back when he got up on the rise above the beach, and saw them standing still, on their horses. The next thing he knew of the affair was that a boy named Hon Tarnehana came to him on Hihi Kiwi's horse. Witness sent another man, Wirenili Tamehana, away with Hori, in consequence of what the latter told him, to the beach. The . prisoner's daughter, Puna Rawiri, then came to witness, and he went down to the beach, where Hihi Kiwi was found lying. The woman was resting on Wiremu Tamehana's knee; she was only breathing; there was a black mark on her eye; her jaw was broken; her left temple was bruised, and blood was issuing from her mouth. She was not conscious. The prisoner Rawiri, who was there, said to those around: "I think you suspect me of having beaten Hihi Kiwi." No one answered him. No one had spoken anything of this while witness was there. The woman was taken back to witness's place, where she died next, morning. Hihi would be about 34 years of age. At witness's store the day previously the prisoner had paid two accounts for two young women.

Cross-examined by Mr Reed: There was a tangi after Hihi's death. A number of natives, including the chief Hori Ngakapa, were there. Hori was one of the chiefs of the Ngatiwhanaunga tribe. He asked that the matter of Hihi's death should be discussed. It was not discussed, because there were two causes given. At that ■time Rawiri said she had fallen from her horse. Nja.one disputed the statement. Hori Tamehana, the youth, was there. He did not discuss the matter. No one made any accusation against Itawiri of having killed his wife. No-' thing was said until after Rawiri had been arrested. Rawiri did not say in witness's hearing that Hihi fell from her horse, and that Ms (Rawiri's) father Mango saw her fall. He did not hear Hori Ngakapa ask, at the meeting, "Who saw the hand of Rawiri strike this woman?" Witness did not say "No one." He only said he did not know. Rawiri did not blame witness for being the cause of the woman's death" through supplying her with liquor at his store. Rawiri did say that it was in consequence of being intoxicated that she died. A native woman named Hera Maihi, wife of the previous witness, also gave evidence. Some liquor was drunk by the decease nd her husband at wit- ' r.ess' place. One bottle of whisky was consumed amongst five people. '. The deceased had three glasses; wit- I ness did not see her having any more. When she left witness' place ilihi ap- \ pcared to be under the influence of '• drink, but could ride her horse steadily. Rawiri was in the same state; ; he was not unsteady. ' Hori Tamehana, a boy, deposed \ that on the evening of December 26, • at Miranda, he went to drive some sheep, and he then saw Rawiri and ■ his wife on the beach. He saw Hihi i Kiwi being beaten by her husband, who was striking her head against the stones on the beach. Witness was standing amongst some brambles near the beach, higher up than the couple. Rawiri seized his wife by the hair of her head with both his hands; he beat her head against the stones three times. The woman caught hold of his coat. Their horses were standing a short-distance from them. Ra-

wiri left the woman and got on his horse and went towards Puwhenua. Witness went down to the woman; there were marks on her head and blood all over her face, and some blood en the stones. He went back to the settlement, riding Hjhrs horse, and told the people". When the people, were all -round Hihi, Rawiri said to them, "Was it I who beat Hihi Kiwi?" No one answered him. (Proceeding.)