BRUTAL ASSAULT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18206, 29 September 1933, Page 12

BRUTAL ASSAULT

MOTHER KNOCKED DOWN GAOL FOR YOUNG MAORI An assault of an inhuman nature was admitted by a youngi Maori, tommy Ahuriri, at'a sitting of tho Police Court at Te Araroa on Tuesday before Messrs. D. J. McNaught and M. Ryan, J.Ps., and the maximum sentence provided by the statute was inflicted. Ahuriri appeared on remand on a charge of assaulting his mother, Hiria Ahuriri, so as to cause tier actual bodily injury, but when the charge was called it was withdrawn by leave of the court, and one of common assault was sub-

stituted. The accused pleaded guilty, and upon the charge being amended bv the bench to one of aggravated assault, the accused was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor. The facts of the case, as outlined by Constable Strawbridge, were that the accused, with two other young men, went to the accused’s house before leaving for a dance at Horoera. After they had had supper, the accused went into his mother’s bedroom, and commenced to dress. His mother, who was in bed, told him not to take his brother’s shoes or overcoat. The accused, who had beer drinking, though he was not drunk, told his mother to mind her own business, and when she insisted that lie should not take the articles he threatened to strike her, and did in fact take her by the throat, but his two companions intervened, and pulled him away. After this Mrs. Ahuriri threatened to go for the police. She left her bed and dressed, and when site went outside the accused followed her, and punched her on the left side. The blow knocked her down, and she was carried to her bed by the accused’s companions. When speaking to his mother, the accused made u^o

of the most offensive language possible. Constable Strawbridge stated that it the time when the accused was •barged with tho indictable offence it, was thought that at least one of Mrs Ahuriri ’* ribs was broken. Dr. Wi Tcpa, who Inter examined her, stated bat lv> could not find any fracture of he ribs, but in his opinion the blow rrf have been .a severe one. The reused had admitted to the speaker hat he had assaulted his mother on overnl previous occasions. On these facts, Constable Strawbridge stated that the accused could iot be described as anything but ,u cowardly blackguard, who was not fit to live amongst decent people, and asked for the full penalty prescribed by the statute. The bench made it clear to the accused what they thought of his cowardly assaults on his mother. Mrs Ahuriri had made no complaint to Constable Strawbridge in reference to the assault, and when interviewed she told-him what had happened, but would not give a signed statement,

saying that she would rather die than see her son imprisoned for assaulting her. Mrs Ahuriri attended the court tor the trial, and while the case was proceeding she fainted. The court was briefly adjourned to enable her to be removed to her home. Mrs Ahuriri was not required at, the court, bint she insisted on ‘being present, as it was her one desire that her son should not be imprisoned for assaulting bet.