MOTU RIVER TRAGEDY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 15 December 1921, Page 5

MOTU RIVER TRAGEDY

(United Press Association.) GISBORNE, This Day. An inquest into 1 the death, of 1 aul Zambucca, who was murdered nea, Motu River about November 4th, wp held at Opotiki last night After the evidence of Dr Forbes and Constable Blakeley the District Coroner returned .. a vereiict that deceased came to his loath™ the result of a gunshot are ateusedot' murdering Zambucca will be charged with tho offence to-day. MURDER CHARGE OPOTIKI, This Day. Eutene and Peehi Topi, appeared at the Magistrate’s Court before Mr ILenrick S.M., charged with the murder r l Paul Zambukka, at Motu River or « about Nov. 4th. ■ Mr Nolan, «Joun Prosecutor, represented the police, and Mr Beaufort appeared for the acot *-ta. The court was crowded, principally with natives. The prisoners wr-o are both good looking young Maoris, entered the court quietly, with their countenances serious, but displayed ■ little of nervousness as they took th*}f seats. Mi Nolan outlined the o» m ‘•■r the prosecution and detailed movements of deceased prior to the date ot hia death. He said evidence weald be brought to show that the ii.t ’■eiuents «t all the natives at Maraenui pa would be accounted for satisfactorily except thise of the brothers Topi. _ . _ The first witness, Robert Leslie ha 3. civil engineer, produced a plan C »ne locality. ' F. L. Armltage, Government Bacteriologist, certified that bloodstains found on a matchbox, and a pair oi trousers were human. Sidney . Tisdale, gunmi-cr, gore lengthy evidence regarding ihe (lamination of double and single barrelled breach loading guns, also an bid - loader. Pelletts handed him by Do police were identical with a Remington No. 5 shot, taken from a handed him by the police. The case is proceeding.