Manslaughter Charge Reduced To Assault

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30288, 14 November 1963, Page 6

Manslaughter Charge Reduced To Assault

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND. November 13. The police withdrew a charge of manslaughter and brought charges at assault when Wally Poa. aged 26, a workman, appeared before Messrs A. H. Turner aind I. E. O. Rossittcr, J.P.’s, in the Magistrate's Court at Auckland today. Poa was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of assault with intent to injure and a charge of assa'Ult. Poa pleaded not guilty to both charges. At an earlier hearing Poa was charged with manslaughter, in that by an unlawful act he caused the death of Paeo Teriri Tamepo at Auckland on October 11. Detective-Sergeant B. T. N Hutton said Poa was the landlord of the house in which Tamepo was a boarder. On the night of October 10 a party was held at the house It was started by Poa when he came from the hotel with a number of friends and a quantity of liquor. Soon alter the party began Poa went to bed and did not arise until the- following morning. Tamepo attended the party which was held in his bedroom. At about 3 am. on October 11 Tamepo and Tau Shortland were in a fight outside the house. Buddy Abraham Pea also joined in the fight against Tamepo at one stage. The police were called and they stopped the fight but took no other action. The combatants rejoined the party apparently suffering no injury and they continued drinking. On October 11 Tamepo stayed in bed and did not go to work. He was alone in the house most of the day. At about 4 p.m. on the same day Wally Poa returned to the house, entered the bedroom where Tamepo was lying and assaulted him about the face and head with his open palm and the back of

his hand. He pulled him from the bed on to the floor and assaulted him further while he was crouched on the floor Tau Shortland and Jack Richards saw the assault, said Detective Sergeant Hutton. Poa later told his sister and her husband, that he had assaulted Tamepo that afternoon. At about 9 p.m.‘ on October 11 Tamepo died in the bedroom where the assault had taken place. A post-mortem examination showed he had died from a subdural hemorrhage caused by a minor head injury.