ATTEMPT TO MURDER ALLEGED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23940, 6 May 1943, Page 3

ATTEMPT TO MURDER ALLEGED

FARMER ON TRIAL (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 5,

Koni Thompson, a farmer, aged 43, stood his trial before Mr Justice Fair and a jury to-day on a charge of having attempted ,to murder Ngaro Moses Davis, and on minor counts of firing a rifle with intent to disable and intimidate, and of common assault. Mr V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, said that Davis was a step-nephew boarding with Thompson and his family after being invalided back from the war. Quarrels occurred between Thompson and his wife, and one morning the accused was seen putting his rifle out of a window at the back of the house. His wife and children pleaded with him to put the rifle away, but he retained it. Davis, who had been lying down, went to get the rifle, but was threatened with it. He tried to argue with Thompson, who suddenly fired a bullet through the window, but Davis, anticipating the shot, had dropped down behind the wall. He groaned as if hit, hoping to end the incident. As Thompson walked from the house, Davis got up and again Thompson fired, the bullet again missing Davis. Then a boy got a shot-gun and cartridges which he handed to Davis, who fired into the air. Thompson replied with another rifle shot and Davis then fired in his direction, several pellets hitting him in the face and inflicting slight wounds. Later, 1.-ere was a reconciliation. After his arrest, Thompson, in a statement, said he thought Davis was too friendly with his wife and he was jealous. Thompson also said in the statement that, when he fired the rifle, he did not intend to hit anyone, but only sought to frighten Davis away from his house. Davis, in evidence, said he was only about two feet from the muzzle of the rifle when Thompson fired the first shot. Thompson then moved away and was almost beyond shot-gun range when hit with the pellets. After Thompson put down the rifle he said he was angry with the witness for stopping him from enlisting in the Army. The hearing was adjourned at the conclusion of the Crown’s case.