MURDER CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1931, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE

AGAINST GEORGE RAMEKA.

(By Telegraph—Per Tress Association)

AUCKLAND, July 16

The hearing of a charge against Pali ara Ramika Kere (George Rameka) aged 31, a labourer, was begun this morning.

Accused was-charged with murdering Mrs' Gwendoline Alice Johnson at her lodgings, Randolph Steet, Newton on the morning of June. 24.

Magistrate Hunt was on the Bench. Detective-Sergeant Kelly , prosecuted. . •

Defending counsel was W. Noble. The first witness 1 was Queenie Rose Lawrence, aged 17, whose right arm rested in a sling. She .said deceased was her mother. She had been living: in Auckland for four years. Her mother on June 2, 1930, married John Michael Johnson, a printer on the ship Niagara. Before her marriage, her; mother worked in two factories under the name of Miss Driscoll. She went under that name because she found it easier to obtain, employment. Witness, at her mother’s wish always when m company spoke of her mother as “Gwen, my sister.” Witness and her mother met the accused at a dance on April 11. Both danced with him". He' accompanied them home. '-He told them 'he was a stock agent from T&urahga; --That he had two children but he was not married. He subsequently visited them and they visited him. • Her mother became ill and was in bed for six weeks. Accused visited her nearly every evening. * Witness visited him several times in the evening, usually going and returning an a taxi with him.

Witness described subsequent events Answering Mr Noble, she said when her mother was ill for six weeks Balnea was with her mother from seven o’clock till eleven o’clock. Witness was with them most of the time. She denied Rameka gave her mother £25 She did not know what was said by Rameka and her mother before she awoke on the morning of her mother’s death. Witness broke down after the evidence which lasted nearly two if. hours.

Witness said her mother, Mrs Keesing, herself and Rameka went to the races and that night lie called. As a result of what her mother told her, witness sent her brother downstairs to say her mother was not at home. He returned an hour later with a note which witness said she had read. It was as follows“ Dear Gwen, if., you want to get rid of me this way,.l would rather die than lose you.” , . The following night accused called and the deceased, told him he had better go, but he insisted on coming inside the Hont dpoy going to do it here Gweft.” ; y

He produced a bottle of poison and put it to his mouth, but Mrs Keeslng pushed him outside. That night witness with her mother and Mrs Keesing went to a dance. Next morning she was awakened by a scream and saw Rameka standing over her mother with a knife.

He said: “You’ll pay for this Gwen,” and struck her several times. He then produced a bottle of poison and threw some on witness. He then drank some hitnself. Her mother meanwhile sitting up In bed said: “Catch him Queenie he will hang.'” Accused stood before witness with a knife upraised and said he would love to split her skull open. She said you won’t get a chance. He brought the knife down and caught her wrist. Her mother tried to get out of bed and collapsed on the floor. Someone was banging on the door, accused then opened it and rushed out.