Motu River Murder.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1922, Page 2

Motu River Murder.

CROWN PROSECUTOR’S ADDRESS

The Crown Prosecutor, in opening the case, spoke for an .hour and a half, giving a survey of the evidence to be called. The evidence, he said, was ex* tremely lengthy, there being a long chain of small circumstances as there was no actual eye-witness of the crime. The evidence would show that* the murder was coldly thought out and rtßjF? fully thought out. It would also be clear that the murderer was a nian who kept his wits about him, and that the motive was robbery, the deceased having been known to be in possession of a sum of money. That money had disappeared together with a watch aud chain, while deceased’s packs were untouched. The only identifiable property taken was the watch nad chain. Mr Nolan dwelt on the fact that the cross-bar of the watch chain was found inside the deceased’s vest. Police investigations were immediately made all j along the coast. The police were able to account satisfactorily for the movements of all the men in the pa on November 4th. with the exception of Ruterfe arid Peeti Topi. Peeti had given evidence in the Lower Court and had been discharged, it being held that there was not sufficient evidence against him to go to a jury. Wehi Pnraone was one of the Natives who saw Rut-one on Saturday morning. He asked her whether it was true that she had been telling people that Peeti had been seen with a gun. She was frightened, and said “No”. He said, “You stick to it.” Then a message had been given to the Natives to clean their guns and hide their cartridges. iR-utene and Peeti were kept in the Gisborne gaol pending the hearing of the case in the Lower Court. At that time a Native named Whare Hickey had been in gaol on another charge. Hickey would he called and would say that Rutene told him that he shot Z&titbtikka. Hickey had had no opportunity of seeing the newspapers or hearing anything about the case. Rutene told Hiekev that he took the money, the watch chain, and as he did so the bar of the chain broke. He said that he had planted the * money, which included four cheques. He also said: “If I get a chance I will kill Detective McLeod as he accused me of the murder.” He added that his brother \Mls also giving him away. It would he shown that Hickey could' not havte heard his story from outside. Since the hearing in the Lower Court, some fresh evidence had been discovered. Some weeks ago some Natives were in the vicinity of Wehe Paraone’s house collecting fungus. One of them saw some on a log, and when he went to collect it he saw a shirt, which he pulled out and showed to his companions. It would be sworn that this shirt belonged to Rutene, and that he had been seen wearing it before the murder. There were some dark stains upon it and the Natives had no doubt about it being Butene’s, there being no similar shirt ill the pa, as it was of unusual colours. The Natives put it back in the log. Detective McLeod had gone to Opotiki to investigate, .and information would be brought to show that the short had been removed by prisoner’s mother, torn up, and thrown into the creek. Detective McLeod, how-' ever had succeeded in finding some of this shirt in the stream.-

INTRRESTING EVIDENCE

BY TEEEGRAPR —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

GISBORNE, March 17 In the course of the Motu River murder trial, Peeti Topi, brother of moused, said there was an arrangenent between accused, his father and himself to say Zambukka left their house before the accused. The stlg•ck ion to hide their guns and cartridges was made bv tile accuse. as he hearing of the Opotiki case was •.gainst him. An objection to a quesion as to whether he had since been sked to change his evidence was Upheld.

Witnes said lie told his, father ahtl another native something he had loarJt■d. In gaol the accused became very angry, and he (witness) asked to he put in a separate cell. ivo -pin Eruiti (recalled) said that at h • rime of Opotiki preliminary trial, he went-to say goodbye to the aecusted, who gave him a peiiny “on account of him murdering the mail.’ 'I ho interpreter explained that the giving of the penny was a sort of religious rile, and the coin wpuld be uuided over to the priest of the Rings'! tn Church. ,'g

To His Honour: Accused, whs a sort of grandnephew of his. The penny was given to pay for a prayer for the accused’s soul, or for a prayer to get him out of trouble.

Witness added: “To get him out of his trouble.

Sam Topi, accused’s father said Ruteni left the liosue after Zambukka. Witness heard somebody say the following Thursday: Clean the guns and hide the cartridges. Hie thought it was accused’s voice ( but was not sure. The family were now out casts, not because it was thought accused committed the crime, but because he was . last seen alive at their pah.