Murdered man was ‘a real softy’

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 4

Murdered man was ‘a real softy’

A slightly-built happy-go-lucky man who liked to play the drums was the victim of a series of brutal and prolonged assaults before he had a lonely death in the long grass of a section in Grimseys Road, Papanui, Mr Justice Williamson and a jury were told in the High Court yesterday. “Michael was a real softy. If anyone asked him to do something for them, he would do it,” said Ann Dowling, the wife of Michael James Dowling, aged 28, who was stomped, kicked and battered to death in the early hours of March 6. Wayne Pohutuhutu, aged 22, unemployed, of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Dowling. His co-accused, Llewellyn Robert Beard, aged. 23, unemployed, pleaded guilty on arraignment and was sentenced to life imprisonment Messrs Brent Stanaway and Mark Zarifeh appear for the Crown, and Mrs Judith Ablett-Kerr and Mr

Diccon Sim, both of Dunedin, for Pohutuhutu. Among the exhibits entered by the Crown yesterday was a belt covered in silver studs which had the words “Mongrel Mob” etched on it. The belt was taken from Beard, according to a witness. The deposition of Mrs Dowling was read to the jury by the Registrar, Miss Maureen Setu.

In it, Mrs Dowling said that she was aged 32 and had one child. She and Michael Dowling were married on December 13, 1985. Neither had been married before. Her husband was known as “Teaspoon” by his friends at Shirley Lodge. He was on an unemployment benefit at the time of his death, but did some occasional painting; On Thursday, March 5, Michael kissed her goodbye about 7 p.m. and went to the Shirley Lodge in the Commer van. That was the last time that she saw her husband alive. Michael never came

home that night which was very unusual for him. There were occasions when he stayed out late, but he always came home.

When her husband had not returned home by 7 a.m. next day she telephoned the hospital and police. She went to various places where he might be, but did not find him.

The van was found in Skipton Street, but there was no reply when they knocked on the door of the house outside which the van was parked. She gave her telephone number to the woman next door in case her husband turned up. Later the police called at her home for a photograph of Michael. About an hour later they returned and asked her to go to the Christchurch Mortuary Chapel where she identified the body of her husband. As far as she was aware Michael never had any affiliation with gangs and had never talked of being

in trouble with anyone. He told her about most things he did. He did lie, but she caught him out Mrs Dowling said that her husband had played in a band known as Red Rum, with Dennis King. They were the only two in the band. King played the guitar and Michael the drums. The band had not played since before Christmas as it did not have any bookings. “Michael was a real softy,” Mrs Dowling said in the deposition. “If anyone asked him to do something for them, he would do it. Sometimes he brought home drunks from the Shirley Lodge, but I have never known him to pick fights as he was not of a violent nature.

“It was totally uncharacteristic for him to become involved in fights and he always came home, so this was very unusual.”

His lifestyle before his death was that he was home every night of the week, except Thursday

and Friday when he would go to the hotel. On the week-ends he would stay home with her, both day and night, unless they went out as a family. Her husband was a very small person of skinny build and about sft sin (about 163 cm) in height. He sometimes wore a silver sleeper in one ear, which was pierced. When Michael left to go to the Shirley Lodge he would have had about $5O. The radio was missing from the Commer van when it was found, said Mrs Dowling. Anthony John de Jonge, aged 24, an assistant factory manager, said that he had known Michael Dowling, who was a cousin by marriage, for about nine months.

“He was a real good guy and used to help us out at times — painting our house and helping us to shift. He was a real good friend,” Mr de Jonge said.

Mr Dowling had tea with witness and his wife before his death. Mrs

Dowling and her daughter were also present About 7 p.m. Michael Dowling left to go to the pub, but his wife and young daughter stayed until 10.30 a.m. and then went home in a taxi. Mr Dowling was travelling in his Commer van.

Next day Mr de Jonge said he spoke with Mrs Dowling and as a result of what she said he went to the residence of a friend of Mr Dowling, but he was not there. A search was made for him and witness found his van in Skipton Street

On the Friday afternoon he went back to the Dowling house. Mrs Dowling’s mother telephoned the police and was told that a body had been found. Michael Dowling was an easy-going sort of guy who got on well with people and was a good guy to talk to. To Mrs Albett-Kerr, Mr de Jonge said that he was concerned for Mr Dowling’s safety when he had not returned home the following morning.