THE FATAL FIGHT AT PICTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 318, 13 April 1881, Page 2

THE FATAL FIGHT AT PICTON.

The inquest on the body of the victim of the late affray at Picton was resumed at 10.30 yesterday. Mr Sinclair, Crown Prosecutor, attended on behalf of the Crown. Dr Scott deponed as to the marks on the body, and stated that the cause of death was compression of the brain, caused by a blow near the right temple. John Grace, a half-caste lad, gave evidence as to threats made by the woman during the fight to kill her husband, and stated that the cause of the quarrel was : a pipe. Witness repeatedly contradicted himself. The examination lasted till one o’clock, when an adjournment was .made for luncheon. [by telegraph.] Blenheim, To-day. The inquest on the Maori murder case was adjourned at 10 o’clock last night until Thursday next, for the production of further evidence.

Rawiri, the prisoner, is a young man, about twenty-four years of age. He has a not unintelligent countenance, and was generally considered to be about the best of the Waikawa Maoris. He conducts himself very quietly, but appears downcast at the unfortunate position in which he has been placed by his conduct. Mary Ropaoma, the’wife of the dead man, and the supposed paramour of the prisoner is & pleasant-featured native, of about forty years of age, and bears herself like a stoic under the circumstances. She has been arrested on a charge of aiding and abetting Rawiri in killing her husband.