ASSAULT CHARGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 171, 10 June 1940, Page 5

ASSAULT CHARGE

MAORI SENTENCED TO THREE WEEKS' IMPRISONMENT

COMMENT BY BENCH

There was more than the usual comment by the Bench when Edward Hikaka, alias Edward Papua, alias Taiwhenua Rewai, was charged before Messrs G. A. Brabant and A. C. Sutherland, Justices of the Peace, in the Police Court on Friday morning. The charge was one of assault and the person assaulted had visited one of the Justices on Thursday night to appeal for leniency for the accused. Hikaka pleaded guilty to assaulting Eileen May Watarawi at Whakatane on Thursday, June 6th. In giving details concerning the charge, Sergeant M. Farrell said that accused was from Taneatua. He had been living with the woman concerned for about six months. They had had some differences and there had been jealousy on Hikaka's part. On Thursday, at a residence in Commerce Street, accused had caught Mrs Watarawi by the throat iShe had a knife in her hand!at the time and had sustained a cut. Accused also received a wound. Neighbour Telephoned Police. Hikaka, continued Sergeant Farrell, had a previous conviction for false pretences. "I do not know "him personally," said the Sergeant, "but I understand that he is not a Very good worker. He had a contract under the Social Security scheme and he got another man to do the work for him." The prosecutor added that the commotion at the time of the assault was so bad that a neighbour telephoned the police. The woman had to take shel ter in the neighbour's house. When asked if he had anything to say, Hikaka informed the Court that he hadn't meant to do any "harm. It was jealousy, he supposed, that made him commit the assault. Justice Comments, "It is a pity that the wonian is not here," said Mr G. A. Brabant. "I wish to mention that the woman came to me last night, which was certainly a wrong thing to do, and she made a p>lea for the man. She was quite innocent but it is a serious matter. "Her visit, and her plea for leniency, will not affect the Court in any way. It will not influence me and justice will be done." Accused was sentenced to three

nveeks' imprisonment