TRIAL FOR MURDER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 968, 18 March 1924, Page 5

TRIAL FOR MURDER.

THE MAKARAKA CASE.

SCOTT BEFORE THE COURT.

Pec Press Association. GISBORNE, March 17. The trial commenced to-day in the Supreme Court of Robert Henry Scott on a charge of murdering Gwendoline Catherine Murray, 12 years of age, at Makaraka on January 23. It will be remembered the accused was arrested at Matawai, 50 miles from Gisborne, two days after the murder, he having gone to a settler’* home and asked that the police be communicated withsf In a statement made to the police on that occasion, accused admitted that he interfered with the girl, and held her down by the throat. When the girl did not answer, he realised what he had done, and fled. In the statement he said he had not been told, nut he seemed to know that the girl was dead. He now fully realised the enormity of the crime- he had committed. » Accused, at the court tins morning, pleaded in a firm tone not guilty. Evidence on tlie lines of that in the lower court was given that the girl was sent on a message along a lonely road to a store, but did not come home. Her mother was not uneasy, and thought the girl had stopped with friends as she had often done previously. The body was found next day by a small boy near Makaraka Cemetery, three miles from Gisborne. The sexton of the cemetery and his wife stated that they heard screams at eight o’clock on the • . previous night, but thought the noise came from a passing motor-car. Medical evidence was given to the effect that the girl had been outraged. On the right cheek were five marks, and on the left cheek was a large abrasion. These marks were consistent with a powerful lett band grip. The cause of dearth was strangulation. , - a , Other evidence was given to the cttect that the gill was seen tm the way to the store, and also at the store, leaving on ner return journey just before eight oclook. A Tologa Buy sheep-fanner said he picked up accused in his car on January 28 as witness was coming to Gisborne from the coast, and. brought accused to town. Other witnesses stated that- a man resembling accused was seen walking out toward Makaraka on (he morning of January

23 A local sheep-farmer said be picked up accused walking., out of Makaraka, atffi gave him a lift, in Irfs .car. Accused then said he had no money to get to Motuhora, where he expected to get work, so witness gave him some. _ , , Further evidence was given that accused was seen in the Makaraka Hotel at about noon on January 28. He then started to walk back to Gisborne being picked up by a car and taken to the outskirts of the Other witnesses said that prisoner was in an hotel bar in Gisborne between five and six o’clock, and later a man resembling prisoner was seen at about eight o clock on the way to Makaraka again. At this stage the proceedings were ad journed till Tuesday .