HINDU'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 172, 22 July 1940, Page 8

HINDU'S DEATH.

HUNTLY CHARGE. MAORI STANDS TRIAL ' HAHBIAVOHTEB ALLEGED. Alternative charges of manslaughter and of assault causing grievous bodilyharm were faced in the Supreme Court to-day by a stalwart young Maori, John Kite, aged 23, in respect to the death near Huntly on May 18 of a Hindu labourer, Rama Khushal. The case was heard before Mr. Justice Callan and a jury, Mr. G. S. R. Meredith prosecuting for the Crown and Mr. Hall Skelton appearing for the accused, who pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Meredith said that the hearing might be protracted owing to the necessity of hearing the evidence through an interpreter of a number of Maori witnesses, but the facts would be found to be simple. The deceased was a Hindu who lived in a shack on the banks of the Waikato River near Huntly. It would be shown that on the afternoon of May 18 he was seen to have two or three drinks in the hotel at Huntly with accused, and that later he was a passenger on a bus to the Renown colliery and was let off the bus near his shack about 11 p.m. Visit To Shack. That night, proceeded Mr, Meredith, there was a party at the house of a Mrs. Williams, where various people went after having been to a picture show. Among the visitors were the accused and his sister Rina, and other Maoris, including Martin Brown and Sam Rehu. Evidence would be given that Brown, Kite and Rehu left her house with the intention of going to Rama's whare, about three furlongs distant. It would also be shown that when those three got there Rama was drinking with a Maori man and the latter's wife. The man and his wife left, and after Brown had arranged with Rama about getting drink, Kite tried to arrange about drink, but the Hindu put him off. Brown tried to induce Kite to leave Rama's with him, but found him quarrelsome, so he and Rehu together left the whare, with Kite still there. Some time later Kite went back to Mrs. Williams' place, and it was noticed he was very depressed and there was blood on the sleeve of his overcoat. His sister asked about the blood but got no reply. Evidence of Violence.

The evidence would show, added counsel, that next day Rama's body was found face down in a shallow lagoon about 140 feet from his shack, and signs of a struggle were observed at a spot 40 feet from where the body was. At this spot, too, were found eight teeth, four of which had parts of the jaw attached. There were numerous and deep lacerations on the Hindu's face and forehead, his jaw was broken and a number of teeth had been violently dislodged. Medical evidence would be led to show that death was due to drowning, and that in the doctor's view the wounds on the deceased were enougii to daze him, but not to render him unconscious. The doctor would also say that the wounds appeared to him to be the. result of blows by a blunt instrument or kicks by a boot, but not blows by a hand. Later accused made a statement denying any knowledge of Rama's death, and later another statement admitting having quarrelled with Rama over money he had given him for beer, and having hit him with his hands. He could not remember having kicked him. Kite added in his statement that when he heard Rama was dead he knew he had done it.

Evidence is proceeding on the lines of counsel's opening statement.

In cross-examination Sergeant C. M. Francis, who took photographs of the spot where the Hindu was found, said the bank above the water at that spot was about four feet high, and on it was a cross-stick apparently used by Rama for latrine purposes. Below the crossstick in the water was a fallen tree trunk, but he did not observe jagged roots on it. The case is proceeding.