Maori Mother Blamed For Child's Death

Chronicle (Levin), 13 May 1948, Page 7

Maori Mother Blamed For Child's Death

Press Assodation.

(Per

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WANGANUI, May 12. Tlie case in which a married Maori woman, Margaret Mary Theresa Loo, aged 26, is cliarged with the rnurder of her four-year-old daughter, Gale Kingi, at Ohakune last Deeember, was continued in the Supreme Court here today and was unfinished when the Oourt adjourned until tomorrow. New medieal evidence was heard today. The 1 case is being heard by Mr. Justice Cornish and jury. Dr. P. P. Lynch, pathologist, Wellington, who carried out a post-mortem examination of the child's body after it had been exhumed at the Raetihi cemetery, said in evidence that the child's head injury could have been caused by a heavy fall or severe blow or blows. He excluded a fall becausc of the position of the injury and tliought it more likely to have been caused by blows. There were, however, anonialies which made it difficult to form an accurate opinion on medieal grounds as to the cause of death. Cross-examined, witness said he could not exclude the possibility of accident. Lewis Edmund Jordan, medieal practitioner, Ohakune, said that when tlie ehild was brought to his surgery, it was in a desperate condition and deeply uncohscious. In his opinion she was suffering from a depressiou of the bram due to an injury to tlie skull. Aceused had told witness that the injury was caused through tlie ehild falling when carrying a rockinghorse down tlie steps at the back of the house. An operation was performed 011 the ehild and that disclosed that there was no fracture of the skull. In his opinion death was due to asphyxia caused by injury to the brain. He thought the ehild had received a hani blow. It was difficult to see how it could have been caused by a fall becausc of the position of tlie injury. Cross-examined, witness said he could not, at the post-mortem examinatioiij exclude the possibility of a fall. John Harle Mclntyre, medieal practitioner, who saw the ehild before tlie operation, said he had 110 doubt that there was an ideutation in the .skun and it was difficult to believe tiiat the ideutation could have been caused either by a fall or the child's head being thrust against a chair. Asked wliether he wouid agree with Dr. Lynch that ihe indentation in the skull was not more tlian a normal variation in tlie anatomy of the skull, witness said he would agree. William Thonuts Blackmore who, for nine months was a neighbour of ~ aecused, said that 011 oue occasion when accused's husband was away and acuscd was staying with witness and his wife, he thought he heard a scream and went to investigate. lle said he found Gale Kingi lying naked 011 the bed, grcat weals 011 her body, having been made from a strap. "I picked up thc strap and was going to give Mrs. Loo a taste of it but changed my mind and went to work," said witness. Mr. Bain: And very wisely too. Witness adtled tliat he had reported the attitude of accused to the ciuld which he described as rather severe, to the police and ehild welfare officer.