TRIAL OF RAMEKA

Evening Post, Volume 32, Issue 32, 6 August 1931, Page 7

TRIAL OF RAMEKA

EVIDENCE COMPLETED

MENTAL EXPERTS HEARD

(By Tclegiaph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, sth August. Having given his evidence at his trial for alleged murder of Mrs. Johnson today, George Bameka was cross-exam-ined by Mr. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor. The accused said that after he first met Mrs. Johnson.ho used to see her every night He did not know how strong the poison was nor how many people the contonts of the bottle he bought would kill. He thought of the knife after he reached home on the night before the tiagedy. If poison was not sufficient he intended to stab himself with the knife in a ta\i cab. He drank part of the poison at Mrs. Keesing's, outside Mrs. Johnson's door, fully intending to drink the rest after he had had it out with her. Mrs. Johnson was awake when ho i\ ent into her room, and she spoke first. He did not remomber seeing the knife aftci he put it in his pocket at the dooi. Ho did not remember driving back to Hepburn street or other incidents which witnesses had sworn to. He did not remember anything from the time he was at Mrs. Johnson's door till he was in hospital. / Dr. E. M. Beattie, who for 20 years was in charge of the Auckland Mental Hospital, said he had formed the conclusion that there was a probability of a minor epileptic condition in the accused. Witness had gained the impression that there was a certain amount of mental instability. He found Maoris as a rule emotional and intensely sensitive! "I legard this man as ot unstable mental condition," continued witness. "For years he has been suffering from strange sensations in his head, with attacks of giddiness and disturbance of his eyes. The man had been suffering from abnormal depression, and was actively suicidal, Yf hen he went into the room where the deceased was the depression became intense, and he was suflermg a burning pain m the mouth, throat, and stomach from tho poison he had taken. He was called by a name that all Maoris resent, and he got into an irresponsible maniacal condition. If he was in such a maniacal state he could not know the nature and quality of his act." This closed the case foi the defence. The Crown then called Dr. H. M. Buchanan, superintendent of the Auckland Mental Hospital, who saia that Bameka had not given him any symptoms of loss, of memory or giddiness. In his opinion, there was no justification for the theory that the accused was epileptic. He did not think that Eameka had the loss of memory at the time of the tragedy that he claimed to have had. In witness's opinion the act in the bedroom was a conscious act. Corroborative evidence was given by other mental experts. The evidenco concluded to night, and the case will be finished to morrow.