MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26441, 7 June 1951, Page 5

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

ACCUSED TO STAND TRIAL (New Zealand Press Association) WHAKATANE, June 6. Taitua Taihakoa, aged 42, a labourer, charged before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., in the Whakatane Magistrate’s Court this morning with the manslaughter of Mrs Moreana Wharetuna at Nukuhou on May 15, was committed for trial at Auckland. Mr V. R. Meredith, of Auckland, appeared for the Crown, and Mr H. O. Cooney, of Tauranga, for the accused. Mr Meredith said that the original murder charge against Taihakoa had been dropped and the manslaughter charge substituted. Dr. A. W. F. Cole said in evidence that he and Dr. G. H. Maaka made a post-mortem examination of Mrs Wharetuna and found severe bruising on the face and body, several ribs broken, and the breastbone fractured. In their opinion death was“a result of pressure on the brain caused by bleeding from a ruptured blood vessel of the brain, associated with shock from injuries. Rutene Maxwell, a fencer, said that he lived in a whare close to Taihakoa. The night before Mrs Wharetuna's death there was a beer party. There were arguments between Mrs Wharetuna and Taihakoa. Ultimately Jack Curtis, manager of a Lands and Survey Department block, arrived and told them to stop the noise. To Mr Cooney Maxwell said that in the afternoon Mrs Wharetuna had been to Taneatua and bought two or three bottles of gin and some beer, and during the party she was in a fighting and quarrelsome mood. Jack Curtis, manager of a Lands and Survey Department farm at Nukuhou, recalled that about 9.30 pjn. on May 14 he was awakened by yelling and heard a woman scream, so he decided to go to the accused’s whare. He found several people there, some sober and some drunk. “The accused was pretty drunk, and his wife was well under the influence,” he said. “I told them all to go inside and break up the party.” He added that two little children arrived at his door about 3 o’clock next morning, and after what they said he went to Taihakoa’s whare. He found Mrs Wharetuna dead. The witness said that Mrs Wharetuna was addicted to drink and became quarrelsome and inclined to fight Taihakoa was very patient with her. When he saw Taihakoa he was grief stricken. Mrs Here Pouwhare, daughter of Mrs Wharetuna, said that she saw Taihakoa kick her mother several time* while she was on the ground. Detective-Sergeant R. H. Waterson said that Taihakoa told him he was drunk the night before and could not remember what had happened. After pleading not guilty Taihakoa was committed for trial.