ALLEGED MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19443, 31 October 1925, Page 10

ALLEGED MURDER

CHARGE AGAINST YOUNG MAORI WOMAN THREW BABY INTO RIVER [Per PreHR Association.] GISBORNE, Oct. 30. Pourewa Maru, a young single Maori woman, was charged before the Magistrate that at To Arai, on October 7, she murdered her infant child. Detective McLeod stated that accused wias an adopted child, having resided at Te Aral for about 20 years. On October 8 the body of a child was found in the river and then inquiries were made. Accused was found ill in bed. She subsequently admitted having given birth to a child and throwing it in the river. In the course of evidence it was elicited that accused had never been to school and had no education, her whole life having been spent in assisting her foster parents. Dr. Gunn deposed that the body was that of a fully developed male child. There were no external marks of violence, but a piece of cloth had been tied tightly across the mouth and nose. Death in his opinion was due to asphyxia. Evidence was given as to accused’s ad” n ’ssions by the police. The accused reserved her defence ana was committed to the Supreme Court.