CHARGE OF MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18903, 24 March 1933, Page 6

CHARGE OF MURDER.

THE PUKEPOTO TRAGEDY. YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. “ Shot In My Sleep.” AUCKLAND, Thursday. The trial of Rewi Manuel, agen 17 vears, charged with the murder of Hatiwira Houkamon Rapihana at Pukepoto on January S, was continued before Mr G. N. Morris, S.M., this morning. Constable M. Thornell, who is In charge of the Kaitaia -police district, stated that at 7.10 a.m. January 8, he proceeded to the hospital and saw liatl Robson in -bed. Witness asked had he been shot at and -he said, “ No, I don’t think so.” Witness said, “ I told him his wound was consistent with a -gunshot wound, and he said, ‘lf I have been shot I was shot in my sleep.’ ” Witness then went to Pukepoto. He went to the bedroom where -I-lati -had slept and under the bed was a gun, but it had not been recently used. Outside the back door witness met accused and asked him had lie heard anything that morning. Accused said, “ I heard no sound -other than Mrs. Hati Robson yelling out.” Witness -said he searched for a -shotgun. Accused at that time was with Willie Nathan and Constable Buckley. The hat (produced) was handed to witness -by accused, who said it was a strange hat found in the house, which did not belong to them. In the presence of accused witness asked a number of natives did they know who owned the hat, and one of them said it belonged to Moses Yates. Witness said he had made inquiries about two men alleged to have walked the Pukepo-to Road early that morning, one wearing white trousers, but could find no trace of such men.

Finding of Gun

Constable E. Buckley said he saw a double-barrelled shotgun lying near the shack in which the accused slept. The gun had the appearance -of recent use and a discharged cartridge was in the right barrel. At this stage -the magistrate went into chambers on the question of certain evidence. Later the magistrate announced that, notwithstanding Mr. Meredith's objection, the Court declined to hear evidence -of a conversation between Detective-Sergeant Robertson and the accused as it is covered by a statement.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. ACCUSED RESERVES DEFENCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) KAIIIAIA, Friday. The case in which Rewi Manuel is charged with the murder at Pukepoto on January 8 of Hatiwira Hokanon Rapihana, was concluded before Mr Morris, S.M., to-day. Accused reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Detective-Sergeant Robertson said no fingerprints of any value for identification purposes had been found on the shotgun by an expert.