TOKOMARU BAY TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 21881, 19 November 1934, Page 8

TOKOMARU BAY TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON MAORI COUPLE JURY'S VERDICT [Pf.r United Press Association.] GISBORNE, November 19. The inquest into the tragedy at Tokoraaru Bay on Saturday opened this morning Karauria’s brother. Alexander, stated that the deceased couple lived fairly amicably, and it was only since the death of his father that Barlow Karauria had been acting strangely. Witness gave details of the tragedy ns reported on Saturday, stating that he found Barlow almost dead, with a knife sticking in his throat, and Mrs Karauria lying prone in a pool of blood. Dr N. B. M‘Kay stated that he found the bodies on the floor of a large room. Barlow’s body was lying across his wife’s legs. On Mrs Karauria’s body were five superficial chest wounds and two severe neck wounds, sufficient to cause death. On Karauria’s body were two wounds on the neck.

Lena Karauria, aged twenty, (Barlow’s sister), stated that the couple did not quarrel, but Barlow was inclined to go very queer and just sit around. On Saturday morning Mrs Karauria called her from the kitchen. She was struggling with Barlow, who had a knife in his hand, which witness took from him. Later she heard a noise and found Barlow stabbing his wife. Witness grabbed the children and took them to the garden and then returned for the other children. She found the wife dead and the husband on the floor alongside. Pani Hauiki deposed to Barlow’s moods, stating that on Friday last he started ordering his wife about. After police evidence concerning Barlow’s mental state the jury returned a verdict that Hane Karauria met her death at the hands of her husband and that the latter committed suicide whilst of unsound mind.