ALLEGED RITUAL MURDER
BASUTOLAND CHIEFTAIN’S CONVICTION QUASHED BY PRIVY COUNCIL NZPA—Reuter—Copyright LONDON, Jan. 13. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to-day quashed the convictions of a Basutoland chieftain, five other Africans, and one Indian- sentenced to be hanged for ritual murder bv the Basutoland High Court in October, 1947. They were convicted of the murder of a 60-year-old African, Katse Phatela. on Christmas Day, 1945. Ten men were concerned in the murder, which the Crown alleged was committed to obtain human blood for a witch doctor. Of these the witch doctor died in gaol, two gave evidence for the prosecution, and the remaining seven were the appellants. At the trial evidence for the Crown said that at a feast held in a hut on Christmas Day Phatela was plied with drink until he was insensible, and was then carried about 500 yards, hit on the head with a pick handle, and throttled. His body was found later in a stream Allowing the appeal, the Judicial Committee said it would announce the reasons later. Mr P. Gordon Walker, Parliamentary, Under-secretary for Commonwealth Relations, said he is considering sending a commission to Basutoland to investigate alleged ritual murders.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 26980, 15 January 1949, Page 8
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197ALLEGED RITUAL MURDER Otago Daily Times, Issue 26980, 15 January 1949, Page 8
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