TRAGEDY IN NORTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 68, 22 March 1937, Page 11

TRAGEDY IN NORTH

MURDER CHARGE

HEARING COMMENCED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

After several remands at the request of the police John Toka, farm labourer, aged 24, was charged in the Police Court this morning with the murder of his father, Toka Whakia and with the attempted murder of his sister, Mrs. Ette Toka, at Patumahoe on February 21. The charges were heard together.

K. M. Griffin, Government Analyst, at Auckland, gave evidence that a gun had been discharged close to the malthoid wall of the whare. There were four, holes in the malthoid and signs of the discharge of smokeless powder.

C. M. Francis, police photographer, produced photographs one of which showed the deceased's body on the floor and shot holes in the wall and curtain.

Dr. H. S. Douglas, of Pukekohe, described a visit the accused paid him four days before the tragedy accompanied by his father. Witness advised him to go to hospital and gave him a certificate for the Auckland Hospital. He was not keen to go but his father said he would see that he did. The accused was then quite normal.

Dr. Begg said he went to the whare when the police were investigating on the night of the tragedy and found the dead body of the victim lying on the kitchen floor and the wounded woman two yards away. When Toka was brought into the whare and confronted with the injured woman she pointed to him and said, "That is the man. He shot-my father." Toka replied, "I shot him. I have been in hospital." The accused's demeanour was quite calm and he spoke only in answer to questions. Mr. V. R. Meredith appeared for the Crown, and Mr. F. W. Schramm, M.P., appeared for the accused. SISTERS EVIDENCE. Ette Toko, whose head was bandaged, said she returned to live at her father's house about a year ago. Her brother had been living there since his return from a mental hospital twelve months ago. He had been in hospital for nine months. He ■ was her father's pet. ■ "Did they quarrel?" asked Mr. Meredith. "My father used to growl at him to do some work, but he would not do it," replied witness, who added that on the day of the shooting her father and the accused intended visiting the Pukekohe Show. She objected because her brother was lazy and depended on her father's pension to pay the expenses. As a result of her.objection they did not go. The accused then said that he would not go to hospital, saying that even a policeman would not take him. After tea, when the family were sitting around the fire, continued witness, her brother went outside. Half an hour later she heard a loud report. Her father fell to the floor, calling.out that he was shot. She went to his side. Her brother came inside and punched her and hit her twice with a kettle. She pretended death, and heard her father being,: struck twice with the kettle. •