Wairoa Case Evidence At Inquest

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1949, Page 5

Wairoa Case Evidence At Inquest

‘ WAIROA, This Day (P.A.) .—Just' on 10 months since the finding of the body with severe head.' wounds in a whare just outside the borough boundary, the inqueston , Herbert William Brunton was resumed this morning. Mr L. G. Sinclair S.M. -is Coroner. The police proceedings axe being conducted by Inspector C. Murphy, officer in charge of , the Hawke’s Bay police district. Five witnesses are to be''called and the proceedings may be fairly lengthy. v The first witness was Dr Debden Wilkins, who said he had been called by ttje police to Kaimoana road early in the morning of December 17, where he found the body of the deceased propped up in a corner of v the whare. Brunton had suffered severe head injuries. Bloodstains were also found on the floors, walls, and bedding. Against the hearth in the hut was found an axe,'.which he believed was used in the attack. There wa.s very little blood on the floor where the body was found, but there were large quantities on the bedclothes and pillow. There was also an impression on the pillow, indicating that it had been lain on. Witness was present when Dr Somerville carried out a ppst-mortem at the hospital morgue and agreed with his findings. 'I Pathologist's Evidence Dr Mark Graham Somerville, pathologist to the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board, gave evidence of having examined the body at the hut and later carrying out a post-mortem. . After the removal of the body he had inspected the hut and found bloodstain’s on the outside door and a further large amount of blood, mainly congealed, on the floor near the outride door. On the ledge had been found a small piece of bone, which ‘ subsequently proved to be part of the skull, Whilst on the floor entering the second door was found a piece of brain matter. There were further, bloodstains about the floor and also on an axe lying against the stove. It was smeared with blood and had hairs adhering to it. He believed Brunton had'first been attacked in the dorway and the victim then went to the lavatory, for bloodstains had been found on the floor, seat, iron walls and door of that outhouse.

In support of that claim, Dr Somerville stated that there had been cases where severe injuries had been inflicts ed and the injured persons had carried out movements such as walking a, considerable distance. It was quite, possible that Brunton was not even rendered unconscious, despite the severity of his wounds, which did not involve injuries to vital parts of the brain, and the amount of blood discovered in the porch would not constitute a serious-loss. The pdst-mor-tem had disclosed he had suffered upwards of 15 wounds, chiefly on the head and arms and death was due to shock and haemorrhage. Deceased's Movements Inspector Murphy: Would the deceased, following -•his injuries, be capable of going to the .nearby hut occupied by French to seek assistance? French’s hut is only 15 yards away, whilst the lavatory is 25 yards distant. , . : ;

Dr Somerville: As he appeared capable of going to the lavatory, then he would have been capable of going to the hut. Mr Sinclair: For assistance? Dr Somerville: Yes, but whether Brunton would be capable of forming the necessary judgment would be difficult to say. Mr Sinclair: The deceased may have been confused or dazed. Dr Somerville: Yes. (Proceeding)