YOUTH FOR SENTENCE ON SERIOUS CHARGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 7, 13 October 1950, Page 5

YOUTH FOR SENTENCE ON SERIOUS CHARGE

Following a lower court hearing in Whakatane yesterday, Tirpaea Kohunui, 18, a labourer, who was charged that at Ruatoki on August 17, he by day broke and entered a house with intent to commit rape, pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Messrs H. G. Warren and C. H. Brebner, J’s. P., were on the bench. Evidence by the girl concerned was that at 8 p.m. on August 17, she was in bed at her home. There had been a lamp alight in her room. She awoke to find the room in darkness, with a man beside her bed. She cried out for help. The man tried to put his hand over her mouth. He climbed into her bed. She described other events. She said she did not see who the man was.

Medical evidence was given by

Dr G. H. Maaka who said there -v was indefinite evidence of interference.

The girl’s mother said she was a short distance from the house when she heard someone calling out. She found a box at her daughter’s window. The back door was open. She went to her daughter’s room and saw accused leave the girl’s bed and hide' behind the door. When she asked him what he was doing he said “Nothing.”

After police evidence had been given Kohunui entered his plea and was committed for sentence. Constable G. H. Thomasen produced a statement in which accused allegedly stated that the girl was a willing party.