MOTU RIVER MURDER
TRIAL OF RUTENE TOPI. [Pes Ukithd Pnnss Association.] GISBORNE, March 15. At the Supremo Court to-day the trial was commenced of the young _ Native, Butene Topi, on a charge of having mtirflei'cri Paul Zambukka at Motu River on November 4 last. It is expected that about fifty witnesses will be called (most of them Natives), and that tho hearing of tho ease will continue until tho week-end. Mr Nolan's is appearing for the Grown and Mr Burnard' for the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. Mr Nolan, in opening the csfio for tho Crown, mentioned that since the hearing in the lower court some fresh evidence had been discovered. t'omo weeks ago several Natives, w'lrlo collecting fungus, found a shirt that belonged to liutcne, which he was seen wearing before tho murder. There were some dark stains upon it. The Natives put it back in tho log. Detective M'Lcod had gone to Opotiki to investigate, and evidence would be brought to show that tho shirt had been removed by the prisoner's mother, torn up, and thrown into tho ereekM'Lsod, however, had succeeded in. finding pieces of tho shirt in the stream.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 17919, 15 March 1922, Page 4
Word Count
193MOTU RIVER MURDER Evening Star, Issue 17919, 15 March 1922, Page 4
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