MOTUITI ASSAULT CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1141, 2 September 1913, Page 3

MOTUITI ASSAULT CASE.

At the Palmerston North sitting of the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Peter Reihana was charged that on July 29th, at Motuiti, he did assault Wirimu Takurua, so as to; cause, him actual bodily harm. Wiremu Takurua said he was at Foxton on the night in question and got slightly drunk. He went to the pah about 8 p.m. He went to one of the houses and on being told to go away did so. Defendant asked witness what he went into the house for and on the latter denying it he was struck on the side of the head. He was also struck and kicked while on the ground. His eye was so badly injured that he had it removed in the Palmerston Hospital. To Mr Cooper : He denied striking defendant first. He denied being so drunk that he fell on the verandah and hurt his face. He slipped on the grass coming away from the house, but he put out his hand and saved himself. Dr, Putnam said that when complainant came to the hospital the eye was destroyed and he removed it the following day. It was possible that the injury could be caused by a blow, but it was more likely that it was caused by the toe of a boot. Dr. Mandl corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. Kauri Patea saw complainant when he,went to the house fall on the verandah. It was dark and witness could not see whether he was hurt or not. Defendant and complainant started a row about going to the house and the latter hit defendant in the mouth, and the defendant retaliated. Haeana W. Hemera said complainant was determined to fight, and he struck defendant in the mouth. The latter knocked him down, but he could not say whether any- kicking took place. Henare Hotereni said that defendant told complainant to go away, and come back and see him in the morning. The latter replied he was the best fighter in the pa. Complainant was what was known as fighting drunk. Tane Tuna said-he heard complainant say he would fight the best man in the pa. Defendant stated be went to remonstrate with complainant to get him to go away, as he was drunk. Complainant struck him a hard blow with an umbrella, and while another Maori was bolding witness he received a blow in the mouth. Witness then returned the blow and knocked complainant down. The Bench considered that defendant had no intention of causing injury. Still,he should not have hit so hard. He would be convicted and ordered to ;i pay the expenses of the prosecution. <•