IN MAD RAGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 178, 30 July 1942, Page 6

IN MAD RAGE

A MAORI'S OFFENCE

CHILD RECKLESSLY HURT

'"The thing he has done is very unusual among Maoris; Maoris are usually very kind to children," said Mr. Justice Callan, when Rawhi Rikihana, a Maori, aged 34 years, came before him for sentence for having assaulted a little girl aged five years, his own daughter, so as to cause her actual bodily harm. The prisoner had pleaded guilty to the charge.

His Honor said Rikihana was a married man with five children of his own and two adopted children.' About June 10 he was crutching sheep for some- farmers near Morrinsville, and the evidence, according to him, was that when he got home in the evening his wife had not even begun to get ready the evening meal. He became very annoyed with her because of that, she retaliated in her own defence, and a quarrel ensued. He made a move to start some form of phvsical attack and she ran out of the house. At that moment the little girl of five came in. It did not seem that the girl committed any offence at all, but she had the misfortune to arrive at a moment when accused was completely beside himself with rage. He ordered her to go to bed and because she did not at once do it. he kicked at her. He was wearing thick working boots.

"I don't believe he aimed at her leg, or that he intended to do her an injury," said his Honor. "The heavy boot hit her on the right leg and she whimpered and went to bed."

His Honor said the child remained in bed and complained of pain. The parents thought this was because she had scabies, and it was not until a district nurse arrived a week later that it was found the child's leg was broken.

.The man now said he was sorry, his Honor added, and was worried about his wife and family if he went to gaol. Probation might be extended if he was a first offender, but he was far from that. He had 32 previous convictions, some for assault, others for drunkenness, breaches of prohibition order, driving a motor vehicle when in a state of intoxication His driving license had been cancelled and he was convicted for driving after his license was cancelled. This showed him to be a lawless person who .defied the law, who was given to drink and to bursts of uncontrollable rage.

\\ hile I am sorry for the wife and children, the man must go to gaol," concluded his Honor, who sentenced Rikihana to six months' imprisonment with hard labour.