THE KAITAIA TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21951, 12 May 1933, Page 7

THE KAITAIA TRAGEDY

TRIAL OF MAORI YOUTH CASE FOR DEFENCE OPENED (Peb United Press association, t AUCKLAND, May 11. The Crown case was closed to-day and the defence was opened in the trial of Riwi Manuel, aged 17, charged with the murder of Hati Robson, a Maori dairy farmer at Pukepoto, near Kaitaia, on January 8. The case, the hearing of which commenced on Monday, is being tried by Mr Justice Herdman. Twenty-nine witnesses were heard for the prosecution. For the defence, Mr Trimmer contended that a very grave mistake had been made. The Crown had made a feature of suggesting as motive that the boy had a grudge against Robson dating back to July last. The defence would produce evidence to show that the boy was quite happy and satisfied at Robson's. The whole of the accused's actions were definitely not those of a guilty boy. Counsel said he proposed to tender evidence that if Manuel had shot Robson the whole of the Maori instincts in him would have prevented him from running back to tend him. His Honor: What authority have you for giving evidence of that kind? Mr Trimmer: I have no authority. His Honor: Of course not. You can search and you cannot find any. Mr Trimmer argued the point of the admissibility of evidence of the capacity of observation of some of the Crown witnesses.

His Honor said he had heard more novel propositions on the subject of evidence that day than ever before. "You ought to know better, Mr Trimmer, than to tender such evidence," he said.

Mr Trimmer asked that the matter should be discussed in chambers, but his Honor ruled that the proposed evidence was inadmissible. After the defence had called several witnesses the case was adjourned.