CRIMINAL TRIALS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4297, 5 March 1901, Page 6

CRIMINAL TRIALS

PEESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, March 4. At tlio Supreme Court, before liis Honor the Chief Justice, a Maori named Rawiri Tena was charged that lie did on or about December M7th‘, at Miranda, kill one Hihi Kiwi. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. The Hon A. J. Tole, Crown Prosecutor, said the prisoner was charged with the murder of his wife. They wore riding on horseback, return- ' ing to their homes, when, it was alleged, the woman was attacked by her husband, and so beaten that she died. A Maori boy who was out looking for sheep would giro evidence to the effect that ho wnv the man knock the woman about nml dnah her head, on the stone* of the beach, Very fiwioua wounds were observed on the woman's head and body when she wca discovered, &he was brought back to, ft store in nn unconscious condition, and died early next morning. The woman was buried, but the body was exhumed, and it was found that a wound at the back of the ear sustained by the woman would have been sufficient to cause death. ' The case is proceeding. The defence is that the woman’s death was caused by a fall from a horse, and being kicked by the horse after falling. HOKITIKA, March 4. The Westland Supremo Court sessions opened hero to-day before Mr Justice Denniston. His uohor, in his charge to the Grand Jury, said that although there was a heavier calendar than usual, the cases were not of a serious nature. A. A. Bourke, for forgeiw, was 'sonteuced to six months’ .hard labour. Walter J. Irving and Robert Power, charged with robbery with violence, pleaded not guilty. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. Irving was sentenced to. four months, and Power to two months’ imprisonment. DUNEDIN, March 4. The charge of the murder of Gibbs, one of the crew of the Otaramaebrought: against A. Thompson, another of the crew, came before the Police Comt a second time to-day, the Grand Jury having found no hill in a previous case. The hearing was net concluded.