MURDER CHARGE

Southland Times, Issue 22013, 12 May 1933, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE

FARMER’S DEATH MAORI ON TRIAL ' CROWNiS CASE CLOSES (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 11. The Crown case was closed and the defence opened in the Supreme Court in the trial of Riwi Manuel, aged 17, charged with the murder of Hati Robson, a Maori dairy farmer, at Pukeanoto, 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 a very grave mistake had been made. The Crown had made a feature of suggesting as the 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 accused’s actions were definitely not those of a guilty boy. Counsel 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 Honour: What authority have you for giving evidence of that kind? Mi- Trimmer: I have no authority. His Honour: Of course not. You can search and you can’t find any. Mr Trimmer argued the point of admissibility of the evidence of capacity of observation of some of the Crown witnesses. His Honour 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 be discussed in chambers, but his Honour ruled the proposed evidence was inadmissible. The defence called several witnesses and the case was adjourned.