MURDER CHARGE AT ROTORUA

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26639, 26 January 1952, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE AT ROTORUA

Fiori Committed For Trial HEARING ENDS IN LOWER COURT > ! (New Zealand Prew Association) ROTORUA, January 25. After the Crown evidence had been completed in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court this morning, William Giovanni Silveo Fiori, aged 29, a mill worker, who is charged with the murder of John Arthur Gabolinscy, a mill manager, and his wife Marie Eveleen Gabolinscy, at Minginui on December 19, was committed to the Supreme Court at Hamilton for trial. No evidence was called for the defence. The two witnesses called this morning were Kenneth Massey Griffin, Government analyst at Auckland, and Senior-Detective H. A. Hay, ih charge Of the Criminal Investigation Branch at Hamilton. On the Bench were Messrs J. G. Cliff-McCulloch and W. C. E. George, Justices of the Peace. Mr Kj L. Sandford, Crown Prosecutor at Hamilton, led the prosecution, and Mr R. K. Davison ana Mr Lloyd Brown, of Auckland, appeared for the accused. During. Sdnior-Detective Hay’s evidence, the Bench again imposed a restriction on the publication of statements said to have been made by the accused. Griffin said that on, December* 24 he received a pair of woollen gloves, and on December 26, with SeniorDetective Hay, he examined the rifle produced in Court. He found fibres on the right-hand side of the stock, caught in, 'a snag of wood. They were firmly held and could not be pulled out. Witness said he found fibres on the right-hand side of the front swivel and oh the leather of the sling. Under a microscope, he compared these fibres with ones taken from the gloves. “The fibres from the stock and the sling are woollen fibres similar in colour and appearance to fibres from the gloves,” witness continued. “The presence of fibres at these two points on the rifle is consistent with the rifle having been handled by someone wearing the gloves.” The witness said that he and Senior-Detective Hay looked at the grey trousers which were recovered with the gloves, and he concluded that they were the. trousers of a timber worker. Debris found in the pockets suggested sawdust, but he had .not made any chemical or laboratory testa of the contents of the pockets. Senior-Detective’s Evidence • Senior-Detective Hay said that on December 19 he took charge of investigations into the deaths nf John and Marie Gabolinscy. With Detective Fraser, he arrived at Otorohanga about 2.30 am. on December 20 and saw the accused at the Otorohanga police station. He told Fiori his identity and that of Detective Fraser, and said he would like to know of the accused’s movements and spending of money on the previous' two days. "He gave an explanation which I took down on a typewriter,” said witness. “In the course of this, I told him that Mr and Mrs Gabolinscy were dead and that they had apparently been murdered. “He did not seem to register surprise. I asked him what he had in his pockets, and he placed a number of documents on the office table. I asked him if he knew anything about the death of tfie Gabolinscys and he said he did not know anything about it.” Witness said that when the exnlanation had been completed, he told the accused there was no hurry, and he could read it through carefully, and if anything was not right or there was anything he did not understand, he could draw the witness’s attention to . jyito®® s £?id he then temporarily left the office. When he returned, Detective Fraser remarked in Fiori’s presence that there were two alterations which Fiori wished made. The accused confirmed thin. Witness made the alterations, after which the accused signed the document. Fiori subsequently made another statement which was taken down on a typewriter and signed about 6 a.m. on December Senior-Detective Hay said he told Fiori that he was being arrested and charged with the murder of the Gabolinscys. The hearing concluded at 10.22 am