JUDGE SUMS UP

Evening Star, Issue 20864, 6 August 1931, Page 8

JUDGE SUMS UP

MURDER CHARGE AGAINST RAMEKA NO RACIAL DISTINCTION ALLOWABLE [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 6. Tho trial of George llameka on a charge of murdering Mrs Gwendoline Johnson on Juno 24 is approaching its end. This morning Mr W. Noble, for prisoner, and Mr V, 11. Meredith (Crown Prosecutor) addressed the jury, and Mr Justice Smith began his summing up. Ho told the jury that no distinction was to bo drawn between Maoris and Europeans regarding the standard of conduct required when an insult was offered that was sufficient to deprive a person of self-control. As far as punishment was concerned, that was a matter in which racial considerations might be taken into account. The judge said a vital part of tho case was whether accused or deceased’s daughter, whoi was the only eye-wit-ness, was telling the truth about what happened in the bedroom. Was a taunt ever made to provoke accused? Had ho taken any poison before ho entered the room, or did ho take the bottle out of his pocket after he went in? Did ho take the knife from his pocket inside the room? The summing-up ended at 1.20 p.m.