MAORI BOY ON TRIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 110, 12 May 1933, Page 5

MAORI BOY ON TRIAL

ALLEGED SHOOTING ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCS 1 Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, May JI. The Crown case was closed and tMe defence opened in the Supreme Court in the trial of Riwi Manuel, aged 17, who is charged with the murder of Hati Robson, a Maori dairy farmer at Pukcpoto, near Kaitaia, on January 8. The case, the hearing of whiefc commenced on Monday, is being trier by Mr. Justice Herdman. Twenty-nine witnesses were heard for the prosecution. For the defence Mr. Trimmer con* tended that a very grave mistake had keen made. The Crown had made a feature of suggesting as a 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 wnoio of the 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 Tn him would have prevented him from running back to tend him. His Honour: What authority have you for giving evidence of thatkin.il Mr. Trimmer: 1 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 evidence based on the capacity of observation of some of the Crown witnesses. His Honour said that he had bcaid more novel propositions on the subject of evidence that day than ever before. “You ought, to know better, Honour ruled that the proposed evidence.” ho said. Mr. Trimmer asked that the mat tot be discussed in Chambers, but- His Honour ruled that the propoesd evidence was inadmissible. The defence called several witnesses and the case was adjourned.