ASSAULT CHARGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1938, Page 2

ASSAULT CHARGE

HECTIC PARTY ALLEGED [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Align si 8. "The kitchen in wild disorder, with a broken gramophone and crockery strewn over the floor," was the way in which the Crown Prosecutor described the condition of a house at Eraser Road. Hawera, on the night of June 15. when police arrived there to investigate a complaint, that a member of a party of guests had been struck on the. head with a piece of wood by the man in whose house the party was held. The sequel was the commencement, in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, before Mr. Justice Blair, of the trial of Walter Thomas Rosewarne, on a charge of assaulting a .Maori, Charlie Tunioana, so as to cause actual bodily harm, and alter--nalively. with common assault. Witness described the scene in the room, slitting that, after much drinking, there was a general "mix-up.' Gue alleged that Tunioana threatened Rosewarne, and that Rosewarne. then went out, pulled a bat l“n off Hie fence, and struck' Tumoana on the head. The Maori was in hospital for three weeks.

Tim Crown Prosecutor was permitted to Ire,at a girl witness, aged lifl.een, as hostile, because she contradicted statements that she had made Io the Police, and ill the Lower < !on rt.

A police witness said that he found a broken batten in the room.

The case for the prosecution was completed to-night. The defence will he heard to-morrow.