SERIOUS CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 244, 13 July 1939, Page 13

SERIOUS CHARGES

Sequel To Fatal Motor

Smash

MANSLAUGHTER ALLEGED

By Telegraph—Press Association. WHANGAREI, July 12. On June JO, it is alleged; William Pera Paki, aged 28, a Maori, drove a motor-cur up and down the main street of Okaihuu. His car, in which be was accompanied by his little son, collided witli a car drawn up on the side of the road. The occupant, Mrs. Annie Evelyn Marsh, was so badly injured that she died in hospital at Kawa Knwa next morning. Pain’s son was seriously injured, and is still running a temperature, though ills condition has improved. Mrs. Marsh's three-year-old daughter escaped injury. Pukl, after the collision, was discovered with a cut throat, and taken to hospital. The sequel of the tragedy was heard in the Kaikohe Court today, when Paki was charged with attempting suicide, attempting to murder bis son, and unlawfully causing the death of Mrs. Marsh, thereby committing manslaughter. In evidence it was alleged that accused went to a boarding-house and tried to induce his wife, who was living apart from him, to return. She refused, whereupon Paki went into a garage, took a lodger’s car, placed the boy on the seat alongside him and dashed away. The car was driven at a speed estimated at over 70 miles an hour and passed the boarding-house three or four times. On the last occasion the car swerved as it was approaching Mrs. Marsh’s ear, which was drawn up on the side of the road. One witness said accused seemed to run deliberately at the car. Others said that the car appeared out of control. On one occasion it narrowly missed a bakehouse veranda post. A surfaceman, whose car had been taken by Paki, said that-ho met accused with blood coming from a wound in the throat. When told that the woman would probably die, and asked why he did it, Paki replied: “It's done; that’s the finish.” Dr. Frengley. superintendent of the Kawa Kawa Hospital, said that accused showed no sign of liquor when admitted, nor any mental abnormality during his stay in hospital. The hearing was adjourned.