Youth For Trial On Charge Of Murdering His Wife

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 22

Youth For Trial On Charge Of Murdering His Wife

(Neer Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, April 29. Two of IS stab wounds found on a dead woman’s body would have been fatal, a police pathologist said in the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland today. Seven others were grave. The witness. Dr. F. J. Cairns, was giving evidence at the Lower Court hearing of a charge of murder against Roy Roimata Rau. aged 19. a workman. Mr W. S. Spence. S.M.. committed Rau to the May sessions of the Supreme Court for trial on a charge that on April 8 he murdered his wife, Rauhine Mihi Rau.

Mr G. D. Speight conducted the prosecution, and Mr P. A. Williams represented Rau. Mr Williams objected to the introduction of a statement allegedly made by the accused on the grounds that at the time Rau was not of the mental capacity to make a voluntary statement. The objection was noted, and publication of the statement was prohibited. Mr Williams notified the Court that Rau was claiming trial by a Maori jury.

Francis John Cairns, a pathologist, said he found 13 stab wounds on the dead woman’s body. Some of the blows had gone through cartilege and some through

bone. This indicated they had been delivered with considerable force. Some indicated that the knife had been driven in right up to the hilt The blade of the knife was six inches long.

Of five stab wounds on the front of the body, four would have been grave and one necessarily fatal. Three of four wounds on the back were grave, and one would have been fatal. There were additional stabs in clothing which had not penetrated the skin. lan William Swabey. a dairy factory worker, said he lived at the same house as Rau. On two occasions he heard Rau say that if he could not have his wife, noone else would. Motorists* Evidence

George Steven B-own. a cargo worker, told the Court he was driving to work or Saturday morning. April 8 when a woman ran in fron‘ of his car. She was followed by a man.

“She got a shade pest the middle of the road and turned round to face the man ” said Brown. “When she faced him she said ‘Save me.’ When she said this the man lifted the knife and plunged it into the front of the woman.” he said Brown said he called out “Hey.” and pulled into the left-hand side of the road while keeping an eye on what was going on. He said that he saw quite a number of blows struck. He got out of his car and saw the man on the ground with the woman. Brown said he saw another "pretty white-faced man” coming up and asked him to ring for an ambulance. He told the other man. "I’ll watch the Maori.” The man dropped the dagger and stood by the body.

A service station attendant came out and grabbed the man by the arm and took him inside the service station, said Brown.

Later, the man. who had gone to the service station came out and put a jacket over part of the woman’s body and then returned to the service station.

Questioned by Mr Williams. Brown said he thought the man knew what he was doing. He showed no signs of anger or frenzy when he came back with the jacket

and made no effort to conceal the knife. He did not try to evade apprehension Drina Mudrovcich. a passenger in a car being driven to the city, said that she saw a woman trying to get away from a man. He seemed to trip her and she fell and he knelt and seemed to "thump” her several times, she said. Then he kicked her and threw down a knife. Police Called

Raymond Chesney King, a motor mechanic, said that when he arrived at work at the Ross service station, outside of which the tragedy occurred, he saw a woman lying on the ground and a man. Rau, standing beside her.

He spoke to Rau about getting an ambulance, but Rau replied: "We don’t need an ambulance. She’s dead." King asked Rau what he meant by dead, and he said. “Tve killed her.” King said he saw the knife lying on the road. It appeared obvious the girl was dead. He said to Rau. "You had better come with me" Rau said. “Very well" and King took him to the service station and rang for the police. Rau said that they were living apart and that “it had led up to this." Cross-examined by Mr Williams, King said Rau showed no signs of distress, but was quiet—almost too quiet. He gave the impression he might break down or go berserk. Call At Flat

Judith Ann Johnson, a shorthand typist, said she shared a flat with Mrs Rau and another woman. Between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on April 7 Rau eame round saying he had papers from a lawyer for his wife to sign and that he wanted to see her.

Witness said Rau seemed moody.

On April 8. witness said, she was awakened by the telephone. The caller was Rau who said Mihi was dead. During the time she had known Mrs Rau she saw no sign that she was interested in another man or, in fact, than any other man was "in the picture at all.” witness said.

Kenneth Leon Healy, aged 16, a labourer, said that on April 7 he and Rau each bought a knife “for throwing.”