Evidence Of Thwarted Love; Maori On Murder Charge

Chronicle (Levin), 13 May 1949, Page 7

Evidence Of Thwarted Love; Maori On Murder Charge

Press Associaition)

(Per

AUCKLAND, May 12. The first wittiess in a miirder tria] at the Magistrate 's Court, alleged threats by accused that he was going to "kill all of thein. " The man on trial was WilLam Ruha \ Matthews, aged 28, labourer. He was eharged with the murder of Govind Ranchhod, a Hindu bottle deaier, at 129a Nelson Street, Auckland, on April 19. Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., presided, Mr. V. R. Meredith handling the case for the Crown and Mr. G. Skelton appearing for accused. Niclcy Wihougi, aged 30, a Maori. said she and Matthews, whom she

•ealled Willie, had lived together as man and wife for eight years and worked together on Chinese gardens. Som.etimes tliey quarrelled about othei men. He used to get jealous and very angry and often beat her. Three or four months before the Hindu was killed, she left accused and went to Kaikohe and wlien she returned went to live in Nelson Street. While there she lived with Itayuiond Ilusband. Ac cused ealled at the house and asked her if she would go baclt to him. She said she might if accused got a divorce. The result was that they went to see a lavyyer and spent that night at i\lan gere, returning next day to Nelson Street. A week before the incident accused ealled again and stood outside the bedroom window. She and Ray mond Husband were in the bedroom kissing each other. Tljrough Ihe window accused asked Husband to go outside and have it out with him but Husband did not go. Accused asked if she was linished with him and she replied ' ' yes. ' ' According to witness, Matthews then said he was going to kilJ all of tliejn. He told Husband he was' going to kill him. Before he left he put his hand through the window to shake hands. She just touclied his hand and he slapped her across the face. On the Saturday before the tragedy she saw accused in t)ueen Street a ' ' bit ■drunk." They went to the pict'ures but ft at lialftime and went to Otahuhu 3re they spent the night at a Chinese . . ket gardener's place. Jn the Sunday, witness continued, ihey went to Mangere Park. There ac cused told her that if he saw Husband and her together he would kill then, ; both and that if Husband got her he. ; : would. kill tliein. Between sobs witness . said she* told accused lio had better kill . 'her vvhile it was dark. He said he didn't want to. That night they spent

three hours hotel She left him in the hotel and returned to Nelson Street. That night six people came to tlie house with saeks of beei. She did not want~them to come in and she punched him on the ' face. He j punclied her back and she felt siek aua went to bed. When Husband came to bed he told her he had placed a broken mirror and two bottles by the door so that if anyone opened the door, he would hear, she continued. She went downstairs at 4* a.in. and used an axe to jam the door closed. . Mr. Meredith: Why did you do that? Witness: To keep the door sliut. Counsel: Why?

Witness: Because 1 nnew Matthews was outside and was afraid he nnght come in. Witness went on to state that in the morning the Hindu ealled for bottles. He did this usually twice a week. He was admitted and went down to thc washhouse to collect them. When the vvashliouse door was closed it was dark in there. The next thing she hearti was screaming and when she went out of the bedroom she noticed the axe anu the bottles by the door were missiiig. She and Ray Husband ran to Cook otreet to ring for the police. Constable Brannigan wlio said he went to the house to investigate a reported assault with an axe on a tuai; naxned Walter Sniitli, said he did noi see deceased in the washhouse at the time. He knew nothing about Ranchhod. He took accused to tlie police •ar. Witness saw blood on accused 's hand and clothes. Witness asked accused what lie had to say. Accuscd said: "I went to see Nicky. Suzy (the deceased) was coilecting bottles. After getling down there 1 asked Suzy where the woman was. ild told me to iook up slairs. i asked him to go up and look and he said no. i grabbed him by the shoulders and he started to yell out. l tried to stop him. He picked up an empt.y bottle and tried to hit me. Ilt missed. lle then picked up another and 1 then stabbed him with • a knife alr over. Then tliis fellow (Smith) came rnnning in and I thought he had a knife and 1 hit him with the axe." Detecti ve-Sergeant Holmes said that accused made a statement at the detec tive oflice in which he said: "1 did not go to 129a Nelson Street to kill Miss Wihongi but, to kill the white man who was livlng wltlx her. 1 do not know who the white -man was. I know that tlie Ilindu is dead. I meaht to kill the white man and uOLhjin. ' ' Accused pleaded' not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. * •