MOTU RIVER MURDER

Evening Star, Issue 17922, 18 March 1922, Page 12

MOTU RIVER MURDER

EVIDENCE OF RELATIVES. j

At yesterday’s trial at Gisborne Peeti Topi, a brother of the accused, said that there was an arrangement between accused, his father, and himself to say Zambukka left their house before accused. Tho suggestion to hide guns and cartridges was made by accused. At the hearing at Opotiki the case against him (witness) was dismissed.

An objection to a question whether he had since -been -asked to change his evidence was upheld.

Witness said he told his father and another Native something he had learned in gaol, and accused became very angry, and ho (witness) asked ■ to be put in a separate cell. Keopu Emit! (recalled) said that at- the time of the Opotiki preliminary trial he went to say good-bye to accused, who gave him a penny “on account of him murdering the man.” The interpreter explained that the giving of a penny was a sort of religions rite, and the coin would bo handed over to the priest of the Ringatu Church. To His Honor: The accused was a sort of grand-nephew of his. Was the penny given to pay for a prayer for the accused's soul or for a prayer to get him out of trouble? Witness; To get him out of this trouble. Sam Topi, accused’s father, said Rutcnc left the house after Zambnkka, Witness heard somebody say on the following Thursday: “Clean the guns and hide the cartridges,” Tie thought it was accused’s voice, but was not sure. The family were now outcasts, -not because it was thought that accused had committed the crime, but that Zambnkka was last seen alive at their pa.