MURDER CHARGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 207, 3 August 1931, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE.

MAORI ON TRIAL. ' Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Aug. 3. The trial of Pahara Rameka Here (George Rameka). aged 39. on a charge of murdering Gwendoline Alice Johnson on the morning of June 24, opened in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr Justice Smith and a jury. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr Meredith, and Mr McCarthy are conducting the case for the Crown, and Mr Noble is appearing for accused. Air Meredith, in his opening address, traversed the facts brought- out at the Lower Court hearing, which began on July 16. He said that Mrs Johnson and her daughter, Queenie Rose Lawrence, passed as sisters. An acquaintance sprang up at a dance between accused and Airs Johnson. Later, when she was ill, he frequently visited her and appeared to have become infatuated. Air Aleredith said that the Crown would submit that a letter written by accused would show that he had in mind some injury to Airs Johnson, to be followed by suicide. Regarding any suggestion of provocation, Air’Meredith said that there was no provocation t-o justify reducing the charge to manslaughter. Airs Johnson was perfectly entitled to terminate the acquaintanceship. It was an ordinary case, and not infrequent, of an infatuated man inflamed by jealousy, who rather than accept his dismissal by a woman would sacrifice her and himself.

Queenie Rose Lawrence, aged 1., whose right arm is still in a sling, then gave eridence.