Doctor describes man’s injuries

Press, 4 October 1984, Page 12

Doctor describes man’s injuries

Nelson reporter Injuries suffered by a young man who is alleged to have been beaten and thrown from a bridge over the Aorere River, near Collingwood, were described by a doctor in the High Court at Nelson yesterday. Two men, Dennis John Daily, aged 32, an engineer, and Michael William Crump, aged 22, a labourer, are each charged with the attempted murder of Verral Huia Nga Weke-Tuhimata, at Rockville, on December 3 last year. The trial before Mr Justice Ongley and a jury will enter its fourth day today. The Crown is represented by Mr R. B. Squire, Daily by Mr D. J. Maze and Crump by Mr K. N. Hampton, of Christchurch. Evidence was given earlier that after a party at Rockville, the complainant, Mr Weke-Tuhimata, had his wrist slashed by a knife wielded by Crump and was then beaten, stripped naked, dragged across the bridge by his heels and thrown over the bridge and into the swollen river. Mr Weke-Tuhimata said he swam downstream after being thrown into the river and after seeking warmth in a silage pit went to a nearby house for help.

Dr Helen May Kingston, of Takaka, said that she saw the complainant late on the afternoon of December 3. His injuries included a laceration to the wrist which partially severed the main tendon. His body was extensively bruised and scratched and there were 20 longitudinal scratches on his back, buttocks and shoulders. These were consistent with his having been dragged by his heels. Dr William Baring Brabant, an orthopaedic surgeon at Nelson Public Hospital, said the cut to the complainant was Icm deep and Icm from the radial artery. If the artery had been cut it would have bled more but it was unlikely to cause him to bleed to death. Paul Omar Daily, of Rockville, said his brother, the accused, called on him early on the morning of December 3. He was worried and nervous and said something about a fight and the man was put in the river. The witness said his brother said the man was seen swimming away so the witness told him he must be all right and to go home. Constable Anthony Paul Cunningham gave evidence of an interview with Daily at Takaka. Daily, after being warned, said it was

all his fault because he was the older man and he was ashamed. Daily had said the complainant had leaped into the back of his car and over his stereo gear which had been carefully packed, without any warning. He was frightened of the complainant, so after he dropped off a woman at her home, he drove a little further, stopped the car and told the complainant to get out. Some blows were struck because the complainant would not get out of the car. He did not . know what Crump did with the knife.