Paki Before Court on Charges Arising Out of Okaihau Sensation

Northern Advocate, 12 July 1939, Page 7

Paki Before Court on Charges Arising Out of Okaihau Sensation

Husband’s Evidence, R. B. Marsh, Okaihau, husband of the deceased, Mrs Marsh, was then called. He stated that he was a grader driver, employed by the Bay County Council. On the day of the tragedy he was working on the OhaeawaiWaimate road. His wife was to have met him after work. He saw his wife on the morning of the fatality. She was in perfect health. Witness next saw her during the afternoon, at the boarding house garage, in a serious condition, and unconscious, as the result of an accident. She died the following day at the Kawakawa Hospital. His wife was acquainted with Paki, and witness v. thought the accused would be - able to recognise her car if he saw it on the street. Mrs Marsh,, who was aged 23 at the time of her death, left two daughters, aged five years and three years.

Mr Noble: But I don’t believe you

Evidence to the effect that Paki semed to have lost control of the car just prior to colliding with Mrs Marsh was given by H. Jordan, of Okaihau, a surfaceman, employed by the Bay County. Surfaceman’s Story.

Witness stated that he was working on the highway near the Post Office. He saw defendant’s mad drives through the township. He described these as being at excessive speeds. On the last trip through the town, ’ Paki seemed to have lost control of the car. He narrowly missed colliding with the bakehouse verandah posts. Witness stated that he did not see the actual impact, but heard the terrific crash. He saw both cars going up the poad together. He ran towards Mrs Marsh’s car and found Mrs Marsh in a collapsed condition outside the board-ing-house. He carried her inside.

Arrest of Accused.

- Constable D., Robertson, of Kaikohe, stated that he arrived at the scene of the fatality with Constable F. H. McNutt, at 1.55 p.m. He found accused at the garage, and took him in charge. Mr Jordan, of Okaihau, handed the constable a blood-stained razor in front of accused. The razor was produced in court. The constable detailed the measurements made in the vicinity of the collision. He stated that the point of impact was 100 yards from the boardinghouse, where a deep hole, six feet in length, had been dug in the metal. . ' Positions of Cars.

“That’s the Finish.’’

When later leaving the building to go to the scene of the accident, he encountered Paki at the gate, and took him to the cowshed. The accused had a wound in his throat, and his clothing was covered with blood.

Witness said Paki appeared to find it difficult to speak. “I told him the woman would probably die, and asked him why he had done it. He said: ‘lt’s done, and that’s the finish.’ ” Although he stated that he had cut is throat with a knife, Paki took a razor from his pocket and gave it to Jordan. Not Deliberate. When witness asked Paki if he had swerved the car deliberately, he replied that he had not. Miss Betty Johnson, the boardinghouse keeper’s daughter, corroborated the evidence given by her mother. The court then adjourned for lunch.

Mrs Marsh’s car travelled 100 feet from the point of impact to where it finally stopped. Shatterproof glass was scattered over the road. Accused's car wasfound stationary 300 yards up the road.

At The Boardinghouse. The proprietress of the Okaihau boardinghouse, Mrs M. H. Johnson, stated that Paki and his wife were at the boardinghouse some time before the day in question, but were not living as man and wife. About 1.30 p.m. on June 16 accused came to the boardinghouse to see his wife. He seemed to be in ,a very cool and normal condition, and had his son with him.

Took Motor Car. Mrs Johnson said she heard Paki ask his yvife to go back to him. She refused. Accused got into a car in the garage belonging to a lodger, Mr Absolum, and placed the boy beside him. Witness stated that she went out to the car and asked Paki to leave the-car alone and bring his son back. “He pushed me away, slammed the car door and backed the vehicle out on to the road,” said witness. & Terrific Speed. Accused drove towards Ohaeawai, turned and drove past the boardinghouse at a terrific speed in the direction of Horeke. A few minutes later accused drove back towards Ohaeawai, He stopped outside the boardinghouse, where he stood on the run-ning-board. He asked his wife to go back to him. She did not reply. He had just driven off in the direction of Horeke when Mrs Marsh drove slowly past going toward Ohaeawai. She waved as she drove past the

house. She had her baby daughter in the car with her. , Paki was at that time at the other end of the town, said witness, and driving towards Ohaeawai at terrific speed. “I have never seen ,a car driven so fast,” witness stated. Continuing, she said she was standing at the front fence. As she watched

Paki drive past she had the impression that Mrs Marsh stopped her car near the top of the hill, towards Ohaeawai. She thought Paki would have sufficient room to pass a stationary car.

Just before he reached Mrs Marsh’s car, he suddenly swerved into the back ' of it. Witness formed the opinion that Paki’s action was deliberate. Noise of Impact. Describing the collision Mrs Johnson said she heard the noise of a tremendous impact .and saw the small car pushed along the road and finally thrown clear to the left of the road, where it capsized, Paki’s car, witness continued, swerved back to the crown , of the road and then disappeared from sight over the hill. Witness attended Mrs Paki, who collapsed. Later she ran to the scene of the accident. Mrs Marsh was taken to the boardinghouse. Accused was later seen by witness as he walked down the street towards the boardinghouse. His young son

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] . KAIKOHE, This Day. npHERE WAS A CROWDED COURTHOUSE FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE POLICE CASE AGAINST WILLIAM PERA PAKI, AGED 26, MAORI LABOURER, OF OKAIHAU, HEARD BEFORE MESSRS J. J. BEDGCOCD AND N. A. ELLERY, J.P.’S, AT KAIKOHE TODAY. Faki sat calmly Tn the dock throughout the morning’s proceedings, evincing great interest' in the evidence given in support of the three charges against him, arising from alleged incidents which occurred at Okaihau on June 16, He was firstly charged with having attempted to commit suicide; secondly, with attempting to murder his son, William George Paki; and, thirdly, ■that he unlawfully killed Annie Eve lyn Marsh, thereby committing the crime of manslaughter. Mr Noble, of Auckland, appeared for accused, and Detective J. B. Finlay, of Whangarei, conducted the prosecution. The first witness called was E. Collins, surveyor employed by the Public Works Department, who produced plans of the sti’eet where the fatality occurred.

was later brought to the house unconscious, and with his face covered in blood.

Mr Noble: You don’t like Paki, do you? Witness: I have nothing against the man whatsoever. I am just telling the truth.