DEATH OF CHES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 8

DEATH OF CHES

FATHER GUILTY OF NEGLECT DECISION OF JURY (P.A.) AUCKLAND, July a A boy aged eight, died at Tsheka, Kaikohe, in January. His father,.’ Kahi Wiparata, aged 38, driver, of Rswene was charged to-day before Mr Justice Gresson arid a jury with unlawfully faWn, to provide the necessaries of life to the child, whereby its life was endangered Accused pleaded not guilty to the cherge which related to the period between December 18, 1947, and January 1, 1348,,. "This is not a very common cffc-netJ said Mr Cleal, opening the case for S* Crown. "Although committed by a MroL it is not the type of treatment to wWm the native race would subscribe. If Js Crown evidence is accepted it appear incredible that a father would treat hb sick child in such a way that it subiiequently died.” Outlining the evidence, Mr Cleal saWa district nurse would describe her visiU to the Wiparata family, which in Novem* ber, comprised the accused, his Maori wife, and five children. The eldest, HnkL who died on January 1, wai the mnj concerned in the charge. Mr -Cleal said the nurse saw Hoki, who was ill, just before Christmas. She left some pills and instructions for the mother to inform her if the child did not improve. When she did not hear from the parenU she sent a message for accused to meet her. He did not come and the"Mn heard of the child’s death 15 hours after it occurred. Dr. G. Kemble-Welch, of Rawene, said he conducted a post-mortem exandoa* tion on Hoki. He had not seen anybody so grossly emaciated. There was practically no food in his intestines, and a small amount of fluid in the He was sure the child had not had a meal for 24 hours or a decent meal for a veek. He would not have recovered without food, but might have with median attention. After a short retirement the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Accused wa» remanded for Sentence.