BODY FOUND ON BEACH

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25912, 19 September 1949, Page 8

BODY FOUND ON BEACH

(Neto Zealand Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 18. The body of Jean Venot, a Frenchman, aged about 53, was found on the high-water mark at North Beach. Piha, about a mile and a half north of Lion Rock, at 8.30 a.m. yesterday. There was a muffler round the neck and a white bloodstained towel was wound tightly round the head. When the police removed the towel a bullet wound was found in the head about an inch long and a quarter of an inch wide, and about an inch from the right eye. Venot had been an engineer at Saigon and was captured during the war by Japanese. He received harsh treatment and on his liberation came to New Zealand to recuperate. He suffered from ill health. He was not in regular employment, but taught French for a living. The body was seen lying on its back on the beach by a resident of North Beach, who telephoned the postmaster at Piha. who in turn rang Constable J. Norton, of Henderson. No weapon has been found. The police are continuing their inquiries, and an inquest will be opened on Monday morning. Mr Venot had been living in a boarding house in Auckland for about seven months, and when he left he said that he intended going to the South Island.