Woman died tied to tree

Press, 17 December 1985, Page 16

Woman died tied to tree

PA Auckland A young woman died when she was left overnight tied to a tree in bush country so she would talk about some missing money, the Henderson -District Court was told yesterday. It was thought a night in the cold would make Maxine Walters more forthcoming, said Mr Roy Ladd, for the prosecution. Ernest George Carter, aged 22, a labourer, of New Lynn and William Janes Piri, aged 44, a welder, of Heme Bay, are charged with the murder of Miss Walters on September 7. Depositions are before A. L. Williams and J. W. de Vere, Justices of the Peace, and are expected to take three days. Mr Eb Leary appeared for Carter and Mr Kevin Rvan for Piri. Mr Ladd told the Court that Miss Walters was thought to have been responsible for taking money, either $BOO or $BOOO, from a man’s car. . - ■

She was spoken to on several occasions during September but had denied any involvement, in the disappearance of the money. On September 6, Carter, Piri and others planned to

get hold of Miss Walters and tie her to a tree hoping that a night in the cold would make her talk about the money. Miss Walters was escorted from an inner city nightclub, The —Staircase, into a car. Later that night she was seen with men trying to get into the Manhatten Nightclub. She had bruising on her right cheek and left arm. - It was the last time she was seen alive, Mr ~Ladd said. i On September 7' the accused, and a third man whom police were still investigating, found that Miss Walters had died. They planned to bury her andT obtained spades and arranged false alibis. Maxine Walters’ body was found badly decomposed in a shallow grave in an isolated area near Whatipu, in the Waitakere ranges, on October 21 after police received information.

Carter, also facing charges of possession of a weapon, wilful destruction, theft, and assault, was remanded in custody until March next year for a further preliminary hearing. (Proceeding)