MAKARAKA MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1924, Page 1

MAKARAKA MURDER

TRIAL OF SCOTT.

YESTERDAY’S EVIDENCE

[by TELEGRArir —rER TRESS ASSOCIATION.

GISBORNE, March 17

The trial commenced at the Supreme Court to-day of Robert, Henry Scott, on the charge of murdering Gwendoline Catherine Murray, twelve years of age, at Makaraka, on January 28th. It will .bo remembered that the accused was arrested at Matawai, fifty miles from Gisborne, two days after the murder, he having gone to a settler’s home and asked that the police ho communicated with.

In a statement made to the police on that- occasion the accused admitted that he interfered with the girl, and held her down by the throat. When the girl did not answer lie realised what ho had done and fled. In the statement, lie said he had not been told but he seemed to know that the girl was dead. He now fully realised the enormity of the crime he had committed.

The accused, at the Court this morning, pleaded in a firm tone “Not guilty.” Evidence on the lines of that in the Lower Court, was given that the girl was sent on a message along a lonely latte to a store, but did not cornel home. The mother was not uneasy as she thought the girl had stopped with friends as she had done previously. The- body was found next day by a small boy near Makaraka Cemetery, three miles from Gisborne. The Sexton of the Cemetery and his wife stated they hoard screams at eight o’clock the previous night, but thought the noise canto from a passing motor car', Medical evidence was given to the effect that the girl had been outraged. On tho right hand side of tho cheek, were five marks lining downwards. On the left side of the cheek was a large triangular abrasion. Those marks wore consistent with a powerful left-hand grip. The cause of death was strangulation.

Other evidence was given to the elfcct that the girl was seen on the way to the store, and also at the store leaving on her return just before eight o’clock.

A Tolaga Bay sheepfarmcr said he picked up.the accused in his car on January 28th. as witness was coming to Gisborne from the coast, and ho brought the accused to to"'n.

Other witnesses stated, that a man resembling Hie accused was seen walking out toward Makaraka on the morning of January 28th. A local sheepsaid he picked up tho accused walking out to Makaraka and gave him a lift in his car. Accused said he had no money to get to Motuhora, where he expected work, so witness gave him some. Further evidence was given that accused was seen in a Makaraka hotel about noon on January 28th. I hen he started to walk hack to Gisborne, being picked’ up hv a car and taken to the, outskirts of the town.

Other witnesses said they had seen the prisoner in the Masonic Hotel bar in Gisborne between five and .six o’clock and later a man resembling the prisoner was seen about eight o’clock on his way to Makaraka. Again at this stage, the proceedings were adjourned till the following day.