MAORI GUILTY OF SERIOUS OFFENCE

Chronicle (Levin), 2 May 1947, Page 2

MAORI GUILTY OF SERIOUS OFFENCE

AUCKLAND, May 1. On alternative charges of attemptiug to murder Cecilia Theresa Mary Dns tow, at Swanson, on February 28, of doing actual bodily harm with intent, and of assaulting ,Cecilia Theresa Mary Bristow so as to cause actual bodily hafm, Cfalley Akeroa Bristow, a quarryman and half-caste Maori, aged 27, appeared for trial before the Hon. Mr. Justice Callan. . The prosecution was conducted by Mr. V. B, Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, and accused was represented by Mr. L. P. Leary. In a statemeat produced by Detective Sergeant Slater, Bristow said he went into town at about 6.15 p.m. and ealled where his wife worked. She was not there but he later saw her in Queen Street talldng to an aunt. Still later he saw her gettin^ into a taxi with a white man. He wallced up to them, struek the man and took~his wife home. He..asked her about Ihe man and she would not tell him. In the dark he struek licr several blovvs and left. He iid not rcmember how many times he hit her or whefe. He said he must have lost his teniper. He tried to commit suieide by cutting his throat with the axe and 'when he was not suceessful he went to give hiniself up. "Accused must have known from the weiglit of the weapon how deadly it was,;' said his Honour, summing up. "When a man takes two or three blows at his wife's head with such a thing he must know he will inflict at leasl bodily harm." Accused was found not "guiltv on tho charge of attempted murder aud 011 tho cliarge of assault causi'ng actual bodily harm. He was convieted of causing bodily harm w'ith intent and a strong xecommendation to merey was made.