THE MOTU RIVER MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2370, 20 December 1921, Page 3

THE MOTU RIVER MURDER.

ONE NATIVE COMMITTED FOR

TRIAL. THE OTHER DISCHARGED,

Opotiki Saturday,

At the hearing of the charges of murder against' Peeti and Rutene Topi, Donald Saxby denied having issued a message for the .natives to clean their guns and hide their cartridges in the whare. Matenga,who is at present serving a three years’ sentence in gaol for assault, said that he was with Rutene in the Gisborne gaol. Rutene told witness he left home before Zambukka, watched for him at the Motu river, shot him, robbed him, planted the money (£lO5 ss), and went to Saxby’s station. Constable Balkley detailed his investigations, and produced photographs of the scenes of the tragedy and other points. Detective O’Brien detailed the searching of the Topi’s house and securing guns, cartridges, and bloodstained trousers, Constable Neal, a native policeman, said he interpreted the statements by the accused to Detective McLeod. He was present when the accused were arrested. Detective McLeod, who was the last witness, gave lengthy evidence of the investigations leading to the arrest of the accused. He read the signed statements of Rutene and Peeti as to their movements on November ~4th, and the statement by Peeti after bis arrest. He stated that Rutene left home before the others had finished dinner 1 . When witness was returning from getting wood for the roller, he met Rutene near the track across the Motu river. Rutene gave witness a double-barrelled gun and told him to take it home. He was going to the station. Witness took the gun home. When Mr Nolan, announced that there were no more witnesses, Rutene replied to a question, “I have nothing to say.” Peeti insisted on making a statement on oath. He went into the witness box and gave a detailed account of his movements on the day of the murder. He said that Rutene left the dinner table before the others were finished, and went away on horseback. Witness left home about 3.30 to get timber up the riverbed. He met Team Ngamoki, who had previously passed Zambukka. Witness saw no one else. He went a mile up the river and marked the timber he wanted. On returning he met Rntene, who gave witness a gun, which he took hjyne. Mr Barnard, counsel for the defence, submitted that there was no evidence against Peeti Topi, his movements on the day of the murder having been satisfactorily accounted for. Mr Kenrick, S.M., agreed that Peeti’s story agreed with the evidence of other witnesses. He would dismiss the charge against Peeti. He committed Rutene Topi for trial at the Supreme Court at Gisborne on March 13th.