THE MOTU MURDER.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17408, 20 March 1922, Page 8

THE MOTU MURDER.

CROWN'S CASE CLOSED.

(yHE33 ASSOCIATION TZXWJBAM.I

GISBORNE, March 18. At the Supreme Court to-day, the trial of Ruteno Topi, on a charge o having murdered Paul Zambuk.ca, a hawker, near the Motu river, on November 4th last, was continued. The first witness today was Ronald Gordon Saxby, who pave evidence respecting the movements of accused, baxbv Senied that lie had given a messaf,©" to anybody that th© Natnes kiould clean their guns. - 1; Constable Backky deposed to finding the body. He said a watch and chain were missing. but the bar of tho chain was left in the waistcoat. S. J. Tisdall, gunsmith, Rotorua, in cross-examination, said he could not say to what tvpe of cartridge tnc- INo. o shot found in Zambuuka's body belonged. No. 5 shot was not a popular eizo in Xew Zealand. . , Detective McLeod said he obtained statements from accused. Counsel for accused entered an objection. He said the statements were replies to a cross-examination through an interpreter, and probably the ao cused would give lyitig answers. His Honour held that the statements weTe in order. Constable Neal deposed that when Peeti, accused's brother, was arrested, he (Peeti) said it was through the actions of other people he was in this trouble. The accused, Rutene, had not replied to the charge. ; W'liaro Matenga. deposed that accused told him in gaol that he shot Zambukka, stole £IC3 and a watch, and planted the body. Accused told him his brother had turned on him. Witness received no information about the caso except from accused. To counsel f(ft the accused: In his own case the Judge had not believed him. Ho admitted tllint at 18 he was gaoled for ten years for rape, then sent to gaol for two years for indecent assault, subsequently got one month for theft, and was now serving three years for assault. , The Crown's case was closed, and counsel for the defence intimated that he would call no evidence. Tho Court adjourned at Bi4o p.m. till Monday.