MAORI BEFORE COURT FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

Chronicle (Levin), 24 July 1946, Page 6

MAORI BEFORE COURT FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

-Press Association

. — 3 J W ' J' * QUESTION OF SANITY RAISED

By Telegraph-

HAMILTON, July 23. The first case for attention by the Hon. Air. Justice Cornish and jury at the opening of the present session of the USupreme Court in Hamilton, was oue of attcmpted murder. Accus'ed was Kikoi Te Hangi, otherwise known as Fred Hawiri, aged 39, fariii labourer, of Waingaro. The all ega tion was that Rawiri attempted to murder Contable I'ercy Clenience, at Ngaruawahia on the moming of ..Apfil 20. A plea of not guilty was entered. The . Crown Prosecutor, Air. H. J. AIcMullin, said Rawiri arrived from Glcn Massey at, 9 a.m. on Aprij, 20 in his owii. lorry and with a companiou. He drove into th'o yard of the Waipa Hotel, wcut to the licensee and demunded beer, some to be cqnsumed atonce and the rest to be put in his lorry. Then Rawiri went along to Alrs. Gatchcll's ice cream shop where he was not sorved as he had said lie had no nioney. Rawiri went to his lorry aud got a rifle which he to.ok to Alrs. Gatchell 's, alarming her so that she teleproned 'the police. Constable Olemeuce was already on his way to the scene and he Called to Rawiri trying to pacify him. Rawiri allegedly lired direetly at the constable who fcll to the ground. Rawiri then returned the rifle to the lorry and walked across to a cliemist's shop, telling the proprietor he wanted some bandages. There Rawiri was arrested by Constable N. Peterson. Air. McAIullin said the evidence as to the act of shooting was overwhelming but there was another aspect, that of the man's mental couditiou at the tirne of the erime. The evidence for tho Cro-wn would sliow that accused made some remarks and actions that were not those of a nornial man. Three doctors experienced in mental cases would givo evidence. Dr. Hunter (Tokanui), who examined j Rawiri on the day of tlie shooting, was I of opinion that he was suffering from a mania. He kiiew what he was doing but did not know it was wrong. ■ Dr. Palmer and Hr. Buchanan, of Avondale, were agroed that Rawiri was certifiable as insane. Concluding, Mr. AIcMullin said the jury would be asked to decide whether Rawiri was insane' at the timo tho oll'ence was coriimitted. Tho evidence followed on the lines of the lower court heariug.