The Opunake Murderer ON HIS TRIAL. HIS CONFESSION. SENTENCED TO DEATH. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1321, 16 December 1880, Page 2

The Opunake Murderer ON HIS TRIAL. HIS CONFESSION. SENTENCED TO DEATH. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Last Night. At the Supreme Court to-day, Tuhis case was resumed. In addition to his previous confession, which was made to Police Constable Taylor at Opunake, he made the following statement two days after the inquest to the same constable :—: — "I know that I shall come to some sudden dea di in consequence of a dream I had. I saw a man felling a tree on the top of my whare, and the whare came clown with the exception of two posts (one at each end) and the ridge-pole. I knew it was a dream of sudden death either for me or some other relation. I know now that the dream concerned myself. Tuhi also stated : " I had no intention of killing the woman when I left the township. When I met her I said, 'Where did you come from?' She did not understand me, and I continued to ask her. The woman spoke English, and I did not understand her. She was frightened and gave me money. She gave me six shillings and fourpence. I was on the horse at the time I received the money. She said she would tell the soldiers about me. I was afraid of my crime in taking the money from the woman. I got off my horse and tied it to the flax. The woman ran away when she saw me tie up the horse. I ran after her, threw her down on the ground, and choked her. I thought that if I choked or strangled her, she would die. I let her go, and a little while after she rose up. I then ran to her, cut (or stabbed) her in the throat, and took her by the back of the neck and drove her along 1 so that she might be a distance from the road. When she had gone some distance she fell. I also dragged her to a place where there was a large quantity of flax. I there hid her and weut to catch my horse. I heard Hone Pihamo's buggies comma: along the road. When they had passed I caught my horse aud went away. That is all." Tuhi was found guilty and sentenced to execution. When the Judge passed sentence, the prisoner laughed. On being removed from the Court, he said to the officer in charge "Give me a smoke."