FARM TRAGEDY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 294, 11 December 1943, Page 6

FARM TRAGEDY

YOUTH FOR TRIAL

ALLEGATION OF MURDER

(0.C.) WHANGAREI, this day. The half-caste Maori youth, Robert Repana Ogle, who appeared before Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M., yesterday, on a charge that at Utakura on October 14 he murdered James Wera Muriwai, was committed for trial. Mr. V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Guy, of Kaikohe, appeared for accused.

Following the evidence of accused's mother as to finding Muriwai gravely injured in a bed in which he slept with accused, Brian W. Muriwai testified that James Muriwai was his son, aged 22 years. Called to the scene, he saw an axe, apparently bloodstained, pulled from under the mattress and handed to Constable Frain.

Constable Frain said he accompanied Constable Ryan to the house and was handed the axe. Constable Ryan deposed that when taking a statement from Ogle the letter's father told him the lad was epileptic and would say anything to-day and forget it to-morrow.

Detective-Sergeant Finlay said he warned accused and interviewed him. He asked Ogle if he recollected having done anything to Muriwai. Ogle replied: "I don't know anything about it. You see, I take epileptic fits, and when a fellow is en epilepsy he is liable to do anything." His mother appealed to him to tell the truth, and, if he had done "this" to Muriwai, to tell the police. Ogle replied: "I'll take the blame."

On the way to the Kaikohe police station, witness continued, Ogle said Muriwai was his best friend. They had had a bit of a row the day before when ploughing, and Muriwai had kicked and hit him, drawing blood. They were gcod friends afterwards. Before leaving the house Ogle had taken pills and medicine, saying they were for his rheumatism and epilepsy. On arrival'at Kaikohe a charge of attempted murder had been lodged.

"On the morning of October 16," continued witness, "I brought accused before the Court at Kaikohe on a charge of murder, Muriwai having died the previous evening. When informed that Muriwai had died, accused had said: "He's dead, is he?' I told him he was now to be charged with murder. He was silent for a few seconds, then said, 'Oh, I'll take it. , "