GISBORNE MURDER CASE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1664, 1 July 1887, Page 2

GISBORNE MURDER CASE.

■ THREE NATIVES SENTENCED TO J DEATH. 4 (per press association.") i GISBORNE, June 30. V The case against four Maoris for the ! murder of Her.imia Nuku concluded with 1 a verdict of guilty against the three male y prisoners, Te Hau. Aporo, and Te Uri, c and cot guilty against ilie woman. The 1 Chief Justice, in passing sentence, ext pressed the hope that it would have an s effect on the minds of the natives, and i, show them that the English law could c not be influenced by the fact that they ! c were actuated by superstition. He also t added that it was not for him to say j c whether the Crown would deeui it right c to carry out the sentence. The sentence c of death wns passed in the usual form, t Aporo wished to say something, but on c commencing was stopped by Uri. The t latter appeared indifferent during the trial, c but became dejected and uuder strong , emotion when he heard the result. The t prisoners will be removed to Napier at - once. They are young, under thirty, and ] rather a poor type of Maori. Their hapu , is inclined to hauhauisna. Te Uri was i found guilty as an accessory before the i fact. Aporo is supposed to have fired t both shots. A nolle prosa/ui was entered ] in the second charge against the same c prisoners for the murder of Nuku. Hautupu was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for forgery.