MAORI'S DEATH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 121, 9 February 1940, Page 5

MAORI'S DEATH

INQUEST ON MURDER VICTIM WITNESS' DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS The inquest into the death of Johnny Maaka, the young Maori

who died at Te Teko on the night of January 20th as the result of injuries sustained when he was battered on the head with the starting handle of a • car by Robert Tukehu, was open «d before Mr G. A. Brabant, J.P coroner, yesterday. After the • evidence of Mary Maltiha, Bessie McManus and Sergeant M. Farrell had been taken the inquest was adjourned.

Sergeant M. Farrell conducted proceedings for the police. ; Evidence ,of seeing the startingliandle*ff?*Tukehu's hand and of seeing deceased lying unconscious was given by Mary Makiha, wlio said that deceased and Tukehu had had tea at lier home on the night of January 20th and had lelt at about 7 p.m. for the pictures at Te Teko. "When they left my place they ■were in the best of spirits, and they were very friendly towards one another, as they always were. At about 10 p.m. I was in .my bedroom, when I heard someone call out 'Auntie.' I recognised the voice as that of Bessie McManus. I went to the front gate and saw Robert Tukehu's car there. Tukehu was trying to drag Bessie McManus •who was intoxicated, out of the car -from the right-hand side. He had the starting handle of the car in Mi is right hand. I saw h:m with it. "As he was dragging Bessie McManus out of the car,, the deceased was lying over her. He looked as it lie was unconscious and slumped down on to the back seat of the car. Tukehu went to him and called out, 'John, John! Poor John. "Tukehu asked me to get some | -water for the deceased and while 1 was at the tank, getting it, he called out, 'Auntie, 1 think John is dead. I will have to kill myself now because Johnny is dead, all because of Bessie'." ' ~ Witness then described how Tukehu pulled the deceased out of the car,and washed his face with watei. Tukehu then said, "I'm going to make a will," and walked into, the Jiouse. When he came out .he tokl witness he had written a will, said good-bye, kissed her, got into his .car and drove off.

Rendered Unconscious, Bessie McManus, said she was a widow and resided at Te Teko. She knew the deceased, John Maaka. "On the 20th of January I went to Te Teko, where I consumed some liquor. That evening, Robert Tukehu, with whom I was living,, met me and later we went along to the billiard room at Te Teko and got John Maaka. "At about 9.45 p.m. we left Te Teko in Tukeluvs car for Mary Mahika's place at Fukahu. We all sat on the front seat. Tukehu was arguing with me about me consuming liquor. He was very annoyed and ■when driving along the drive-way to Makiiha's place he hit me on the head with his open hand. It \\ as a heavy blow and rendered me unconscious. "I remember the deceased putting his hands around me to protect me, but 1 do not remember any more until Mrs Mita Makiha poured water on me outside her house. When I came to I did not see the deceased or Robert Tukehu. "I did not see an instrument of anjv s£>rt in either Robert Tultehu's or deceased's hands. "The starting handle produced is similar to the handle of Tukchu's car. It was kept under the front peat of his car. The front seat has to be lifted lo get the handle. "Robert! Tukehu had a very bad temper. He has frequently struck me in his temper.'*

Witness concluded her evidence ! by saying that the note produced was in Robert Tukeliu's handwriting and that she did not see what r Tukehu did with the starting handle jf The one produced was similar to that she saw in his hand on the night of the 20th January. Investigations by Police. Michael FarrelU Sergeant of •*. Police at Whakatane, said that in ' w- response to information received he had proceeded to Mita Makilia's residence at Pnkahu. He saw deceasfed and t'he injuries he had suffered, but could not find any trace of ' blood on the ground nor could he find any weapon. It was raining .'X' * (Continued foot next coltimn).

l .eavily at the time and it was very dark. "I made immediate enquiries !o ascertain who was responsible lor the death of Maaka, and was informed by Mita Makiha that it was Robert Tukehu," said witness. "I entered Mita Makilia's house and lie handed me the note produced." From enquiries he made, continued witness, lie ascertained that the deceased, Robert Tukehu and Bessie McManus had been drinking at Te Teko that day; that Maaka and Tukehit had returned to Mita Makiha's place early in the evening; that the two men left at about 8 p.m. and Av'ent back to le leko, where thoy found McManus in a semi-drunken condition; that after some delay they got McManus into the car; that when proceeding up the drive-way Tukehu violently assaulted McManus; and that when trying to protect the woman from the attack was struck several times on the head by Tukehu with the starting handle of his car. "The handle produced belongs to Tukehu's car. There is some dried blood on it. "Enquiries were made with a view to tracing the whereabouts of Tukehu, but at 3 p.m. on the 21st, I received information from the Rotorua police that he had committed suicide," concluded witness.