Maori Girl's Story At Murder Trial

Chronicle (Levin), 3 May 1949, Page 6

Maori Girl's Story At Murder Trial

NAPIER, May 2. Experiments with the rifLe allegediy used in the killing of Paul Poliio, aged 28, a Maori, of 'Tangoio, wero condueted by a ballistics expert in the closing stages of the first day of the hearing of the murder charge against Tiemi Ranapiri, a 41-year-old Maori labourer, also of Tangoio. Mr. Justice Cornish is presiding. Mr. L. W. Willis is appearing for the Crown and Mr. H. W. Dowling for accused. Most of today was oceupied hearing the evidenceof accused 's daughter in whose room the shooting is alleged to have oceurred. Te Mairuna Pohio, a market garden- • er, father of Paul Pohio, giving evidence through an interpreter, said he had never heard of any ill-will betwee'n accused and his son. Mr. Dowling: Is it not a fact that your son was a very much bigger man than aceused? Witness: No. In my opinion they were about the same size. Mr. Dowling: Did your son have a reputation as a fighter? Witness: When he had some liquor he was inclined to be quarrelsome. Mr. Dowling: Was he often under the influenee of liquor? — Yes. Has your son been convicted for indecent assault? — Yes. Was he not frequently in trouble with other Maoris in the district? Witness: On two occasions I know of he has been in trouble. Witness said accused was a good man and had been a friend of his. James fSpooner, a pensioner, of Tangoio, said that on February 5 there was a party at his hoine. There were eight people present including accused and his wife and PauJ Pohio. There were two dozen bottles of beer. Everybody had a share and all the liquor was consumed. Pohio left the party at 1 1 p.ni. without saying goodbye and Kana piri and his wife left about half an hour later. Daughter 's Story. Erena Maharanui Ranapiri, agcd 15 years, said she was a daughter of a,ceused and until February 0 she lived at her parents' home. She was the eldest of 12 children. Witness said her par- , ents went to a party on the night of February 5 and she went to bed abou: 8 o 'elock. She and two younger sistei's aged 5 and 6 years, occnpied one doubJe I bed. A 10-year-old brother occupied a | single bed in the same room. Witness went tb sleep but was awakened by -the presence of someone else in the room. This person was Paul Pohio. Witness admitted intimacy with him. Later the door of the room openea. a light shone in and her father caipe into the room. Pohio was sitting qn the edge ' of the bed. Her father war carrying a rifle under his right arm. After ooming into the room her father stood at the end of the bed. He Iooked wild. He was looking at Paul Pohio. After resting the barrel of the rifle on the end of the bed, her father said he had half a mind to shoot Pohio. .

could not remember Pohio replying. She then heard the gun go off. Pohio fell to the floor wounded 'in the head. Her father then threw the rifle on tne floor and walked out of the room. Mr. Dowling: Was your father on friendly terms with Paul Pohio? — No. Had tliey been working together? — Y es. Did Pohio visit your home quite often? — Yes. Had he been there just visiting only a few days before his death? — Yes. >While Mr. Dowling was crossexaniining witness about what •> her ha her saw when he came into the bedroom, his Honour commented that it eounsel was leading up to the point that accused was very angry with what he saw in the room, he would support it. It would be fair inference if the jury considered accused was very angry Dr. George Edvvin Waterworth, who examined accused on Ferbuary (3, saul he considered accused 's physical and moiital healtli was normal. Dangerous Rifle'. Benior Sergeant Gregory Gerald Ivelly, ballistics expert, said the rifle produeed in Court had been worn into a dangerous state, having a trigger release pull of only IJIbs. whereas the minimum safety pull for this type ot iirearm was II bs.' It could be dmcharged by a sharp blow on the butt or by dropping tlie barrel on to a soiid object. The hearing conGnues tomorrow.