MOTU MURDER.

Wairarapa Age, 16 March 1922, Page 5

MOTU MURDER.

A NATIVE ON TRIAL. ATTEMPT TO DESTROY EVIDENCE. Gisborne, Miarch 15. —The trial of the young native, Rutene Topi, on a charge of having murdered Paul Zambukka at the Motu river on November 4, commenced in the Supreme Court to-day. It is expected that about 50 witnesses will be called, most of them natives, and that the hearing of the case will continue till the end of the week. (Mtr F. W. Nolan appears for the Crown and Mr L. F. Burnard for the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. M Nolan, in opening the case for the Crown, mentioned that since the hearing in the lower Court, some fresh evidence had been discovered. Some weeks ago some natives, while coll-ectiing fungus, discovered a shirt that belonged to Rutene, and that he was seen wearing before the murder. There were some dark stains upon it. The Natives put it back in a log. Detective McLeod had gone to Opotiki to investigate the matter, and the information he brought would show that the shirt had been removed by the prisoner’s mother, torn up, and thrown into a creek. Detective McLeod, howeve, had succeeded in finding some pieces of the shirt in the stream. Latter.—Amongst the witnesses called this afternoon was Tuiwahiawa Topi, brother of the accused. The witness was asked by the Crown if previously he had said he heard accused sa.y to clean the guns and hide the ammunition. Counsel for accused objected. His Honour: Did you say that in the Lower Court? Witness: Yes. His Honour: Was it true? Witness: I was bustled at the time. I was frightened. The evidence seemed to be going against my brother. The Crown Prosecutor: Has anyone spoken to you about this matter since? Witness: Yes. His Honour (to the Crown Prosecutor) : I think you had better leave it at that. To Counsel for accused, witness said he had not spoken to accused or his counsel since the Lower Court proceedings. Accused had used one of his guns on the Wednesday before the murder.—(P.A.)