MURDER CHARGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20098, 3 May 1935, Page 6

MURDER CHARGE

MAORI COMMITTED FOR TRIAL THE OPAKU TRAGEDY By Telegraph—Press Association HAWERA, May 2. Jack Ngapaki was charged in the Patea Magistrate’s Court this morning with the murder of Sam Hauora at Opaku on March 25, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wanganui for trial on May 27. Mr J. H. Salmond, S.M., was on the Bench. Mr N. R. Bain conducted the prosecution and Mr T. Roberts appeared for the accused. Constable Kelly said that he found Hauora fully clothed in the yard of the farm on which he and Ngapaki resided. Alongside the body was a hardwood stick with which the wounds had apparently been inflicted. The only person in the house was the accused, who said when asked what had happened, “I killed him.” Accused also said that Hauora came home swearing, growling and talking roughly. Accused told him to get out, and when Hauora was going to get rough again accused hit him on the forehead with a stick, striking him several times after he fell to the ground. He then arrested accused. When charged, accused said “It was Sam’s fault.” Accused was quite sober and rational. Dr. W. T. Simmonds, Patea, corroborated the statements made by the accused to the constable. Accused appeared to be quite collected and normal. In company with Dr. G. J. Adams, witness conducted a postmortem. Hauora’s death was due to concussion following a cerebral haemorrhage, together with a fracture of the skull. Frequent Quarrels Turoa Hauora, son of the dead man. said he heard from the door of the cowshed an argument between accused and his father. Witness heard accused say, “I will kill you.” These were the only words he could hear, although both were speaking at the top of their voices. Witness could not hear what his father was saying as the accused spoke louder. The argument continued for about five minutes. Then witness started towards the house. When about half-way witness heard knocking or something bumping against wood. He saw accused standing by the fireplace outside, it being fairly dark. Accused called out, “Tu. I killed Sam to get him out of the road.” For some years accused and Hauora had been in the habit of quarrelling, although sometimes they were quite friendly. The last argument witness heard was about a year ago. On that occasion the accused had said he would kill Sam if he did not get off the property. This statement had been frequently repeated by the accused, and witness recalled quite readily two other occasions when the threat was made.

The Coroner’s inquiry was held in conjunction with the Court proceedings. Mr E. F. Hemingway, the Coroner, finding in accordance with the medical evidence that death was a result of cerebral haemorrhage, concussion and a fracture of the skull from blows inflicted by Jack Ngapaki.