THE MOTU RIVER TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2369, 17 December 1921, Page 2

THE MOTU RIVER TRAGEDY.

MURDER TRIAL.

TWO MAORI BROTHERS APPEAR IN COURT.

Opotiki, Dee. 15.

The preliminary ■ trial of Rutene Topi and Peeti Topi, for the murder of Paul Zainbueka at the Motu River, on or about November 4th, opened at the courthouse this morning, Mr W. G. Kenrick, S.M., presiding. Mr F. W. Nolan, Crown Prosecutor, represented the police, and Mr, Beaufort appeared for the accused. Before 10 o’clock the limited accommodation of the building was crowded,, principally with natives. The prisoners, who are goodlooking young natives, entered the court quietly. Their countenances were serious, but they displayed little signs of nervousness. They took seats during the proceedings.

Mr Nolan outlined the case for the prosecution, and detailed the movements of the deceased prior to the date of his death. He said evidence would be brought to show ,that the movements of all the natives at the Maraenui pa would be accounted, for satisfactorily, except those of the brothers Topi. The first witness, Robert Leslie Kay, civil engineer, produced a plan of the locality.

F. L. Armitage, Government Bacteriologist, certified that, the bloodstains found on a match-box and on a pair of trousers were human blood-stains.

Sidney J. Tisdall, gunmnker, Rotorua, gave lengthy evidence regarding his examination of the double-barrelled and single-barrel-led breach-loader guns and an old muzzle-loader. The pellets handed to him by the police were identical with Remington No. 5 shot taken from a cartridge banded him by tjjje police.

The trial was continued throughout the day, five native witnesses being -examined.

Welie Parnone (Mrs Brown) remembered that, on November 4th, Into in the afternoon, she heard a horse galloping. She went out, and saw Peeti Topi gallop past, carrying a gun. On the day the Topis were arrested witness saw Rutene coming when she was walking along the road. She was frightened, and got over a fence. Rutene called to her, and asked her if it was true that she had been saying that she had seen Peeti with a gun.

She was so frightened that she said it was all lies. Rutene said: “Stick to that.’ At that time she had not heard it said that Rutene had committed the crime.

A native lad, Tanatin Ngahere, who was with Wehi Para one, corroborated the evidence regarding Rutene Topi. Wharemoana Hiramato gave evidence that he had met and talked with Peeti Topi on the evening of November 4th. Peeti said he had come from the Motu river, where he was getting wood to build the frame for a roller. Peeti was carrying a gun. s Naiti Haenga gave evidence that she had seen Peeti Topi gallop past her house when she was getting tea or. the evening of November 4th. He was carrying a gun.