TIKITIKI BURGLARY

Northern Advocate, 14 August 1935, Page 2

TIKITIKI BURGLARY

A UNIQUE CASE. REMANDED FOR SENTENCE. [Special to “Northern Advocate. ’1 GISBORNE, This Day. “This case is quite unique in my experience, in that there is a witness who will depose to seeing an actual burglary committed,” said the Crown Prosecutor, Mr F. W. Nolan, in opening the case against a Maori, Albert Paranini Kohuru, who was charged before Mr Justice Reed in the Supreme Court with breaking and entering and theft at Tikitiki. The witness to whom Mr Nolan referred was Mr Pci Hipi Warikihi, labourer, of Tikitiki. He said that on the night of the burglary he went into Tikitiki with accused, and went on towards the bakers shop, while accused went in the direction of the butcher’s shop. Witness said he was talking to the postmaster for about 20 minutes, and then went to seek accused, whom he found in front of the butcher’s shop. Accused had his hand through the gauze, over the window of the shop, and told witness he was breaking into the shop. Witness remonstrated with accused, who drew out of the window a knife and a pair of spurs. He was unable to find anything more by reaching through the window. Accused went found to another part, cut away the gauze with the knife, and got through the window. Witness remonstrated further, but accused replied: “Mind your own business.” Accused then brought the knife to the window, and an oilskin, leggings and a box containing stamps. Accused asked witness to take those things from him, but witness refused, and let the articles drop. • Continuing, witness said he again asked accused to desist, but accused replied “shut up.” Witness then went home, and, while doing so, accused followed him. Accused also had some meat and suet. Catching up to him, accused , handed the meat to witness, who let it drop. Accused asked witness not to tell his parents, witness replying that his parents and the police would soon know. Accused said he would not mind being in gaol, as it would be better than being at home. After other evidence had been heard, the jury found accused guilty, and he was remanded for sentence.