MURDER ALLEGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21450, 25 March 1933, Page 13

MURDER ALLEGED

DEATH OF MAORI YOUTH SENT FOR TRIAL DETECTIVE'S EVIDENCE QUESTIONS BY THE DEFENCE [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] KAITAIA, Friday The hearing of the charge against Riri Manuel, a Maori youth, aged 17 years, of the murder of Hatiwira Houkamou Rapihana, known as Hati Robson, of Pukepoto, on January 8, was concluded in the Police Court to-day before Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M. -Detective-Sergeant J. K. Robertson, of Whangarei, stated in evidence that he went to the Kaitaia Hospital with Constable Thornell and saw Hati Robson. Witness went to Pukepoto. He corroborated evidence given by Constable Thornell referring to a visit to the house of deceased. Witness said he told accused he was going to Kaitaia to mflke inquiries and asked accused would he like to come also and if so would ho like to see Hati Robson, wjbo was in hospital. Accused eaid "yes," but upon arrival it was found that Hati was not well enough to see anyone. Later witness asked accused did he want a solicitor, and accused said he wanted Mr. Kelly. .Afterwards accused was charged with murder and made no

reply? Continuing, witness said that no finger prints of any value for identification purposes .were found on the shotgun when examined an expert. It was not the type of gun which would take good prints. Mr. Trimmer, who appeared for accused, asked witness whether it wag customary for an accused person to make any reply to a cliarge when his solicitor was present. Witness said it was not and

he did not want any inference to be drawn from the fact that nothing was said in

this case. Mr. Trimmer asked if accused's teacher raid he was a dull boy. Witness said the teacher did not give a high standard of his mentality. Mr. Trimmer: You take it from your inquiries that the boy has never been out of the North ? Witness: Yes, that is so. Counsel: When taken to the Mount Eden gaol it was the first time accused had ever seen a train ? Witness: Yes, I know that. The evidence of another witness concluded the evidence for the Crown. . Accused was committed to the Supieme Court at Auckland for trial. The inquest was adjourned sine die. Both counsel; for the defence and for the Crown pafd a tribute to the work carried out in typing by the clerk of the Court, Mr. R. Hawke, under exhausting conditions. The-magistrate concurred and laid he would see that the department was made aware of the fact.