Returned Soldier With Head Injury, Charged

Northern Advocate, 29 June 1943, Page 5

Returned Soldier With Head Injury, Charged

Having been through the campaigns in Greece, Crete, Libya and Egypt, and returning wounded in the head from these operations a native' soldier. Ngaro Moses Davis appeared at the Whangarei Folice Court before Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M., on charges of assaulting Koni Thompson, at Punaruka, and with carrying a dangerous weapon. Pleading not guilty to both charges Davis appeared in the dock in uniform with his head bandaged to keep warm the injured portion. On accused agreeing to surrender the weapon the charge against Davis for carrying a firearm was withdrawn. Koni Thompson, in his evidence, said Davis came to his home on June 5, and said to witness, he was lucky Davis had not met him in Whangarei

“Finish Up a Few” They had a long talk over past troubles and accused was in a very bad mood and kept walking round and round. Davis called witness into a bedroom and produced an air-gun from his pocket saying: “This is what I will kill the b s with.’’ He then put the gun back in his pocket. The gun had been pointed at witness, who grabbed hold of it. Davis told witness he had 200 rounds of ammunition and that he would have to finish up a few “in this as well as the other district.” He mentioned the names of two particular individuals. To Mr. L. A. Johnson (for accused): When witness and Davis met that day they shook hands and rubbed noses in friendly fashion. There was no struggle. Witness heard that the weapon used was an air-gun. He had no experience of revolvers. Two Maori witnesses gave corroborative evidence.

Detective-Sergeant J. B. Finlay, said that Davis informed him that when he referred to threatening people in Whangaruru he meant that “those were the people Koni should shoot.” When he produced an air gun in Koni’s bedroom he said to Koni: “Feel the weight of this.’ Detective-Sergeant Finlay, said the air gun produced was tested and penetrated a hard piece of kauri at 30 feet to the extent of £ of an inch and then rebounded. Previously it had ben used by the Thompson children to shoot paper pellets, match boxes, etc. War Injuries Accused in evidence, said he was a returned soldier having served in Greece, Crete, Libya and Egypt. He had been wounded in the head, and finally returned to New Zealand in November of last year. He had to wear a head bandage to keep the injured portion warm. Witness was still under medical treatment and as a result of the injury he. had frequently to lie down. He had never had any ammunition but had an airgun when at Thompson’s house. He did not point it at Thompson. He was not in an excited condition, and he simply asked Thompson to feel the weight of the gun. Mr Johnson said Davis acted foolishly in going to Whangaruru as he simply walked into a lion’s den. He had no intention of shooting anyone His commanding officer overseas said Davis was a first-class soldier.

At this stage the gun was fired both by counsel and the magistrate, and Mr Johnson admitted it was a dangerous weapon. Mr Ferner said he was not satisfied accused ever had any ammunition for a revolver. Davis was in an excited mood and Thompson apprehended a sense of danger from the presentation of the weapon. “I would be exceedingly sorry to record a conviction,” Mr Ferner. remarked. “There is evidence that accused received a severe head injury at the war and that this affects him at times and I must have this determined by medical examination. I will therefore remand him for medical examination.”