CYCLIST KILLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 170, 20 July 1928, Page 9

CYCLIST KILLED.

TAXI-DRIVER CHARGED. MAORI WITNESS* EVIDENCE. CONFLICTING STATEMENTS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) ROTORUA, Thursday. Conflicting statements made by a j Maori witness led to the dismissal of } the charge heard in the Police Court . to-day against Arthur Duncan, a taxicab driver, that he was intoxicated when he was in charge of a motor car on June 29 last. On another charge, that of having driven his car negligently, so as to cause the death of John O'Connor, Duncan , was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. O'Connor, who was a gardener employed at King George V.' Hospital, was knocked down and killed by a car while be was cycling home. H. Rikihanga, who is employed in the forestry camp, said he and some friends at about 5.30 p.m. on June 20 went to the Whaka Hotel. The party went back in Duncan's car to Rotorua. Duncan was driving the car all right, and he was quite sober. When asked why he did not make the same statement to Constable Johnson as he made now, witness said he had forgotten what he said about the car being driven in an erratic manner. "I told the constable I thought the accused was drunk, with the hope that it would make /t better for him. I did. say that he drove about the. road m a zig-zag manner. I did tell the constable that I asked the driver not to go so fast. The statement I make now is correct. Why I made two different statements was that I thought it would benefit accused." N. W. Braithwaite, engineer, said that he was driving in from Ngongotaha on the evening of the accident. When near Rotorua he saw a car at the side of the road, and a man called out and asked him to give him a lift, because the steering gear of hia'ear had gone wrong, and he had struck a post. His face and hands were bleeding. When he returned he saw the car at the side of the road and examined it, and found nothin* wrong with the steering gear. Therms blood over the ear In several places Motn Rike Rikihaaga gave similar evidence to the other Maori, as, to the accused driving on his right side and | lieing sober. Aecused waa aliowed -heiL g ■