MOTU RIVER MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2406, 18 March 1922, Page 3

MOTU RIVER MURDER.

EVIDENCE AT THE TRIAL. Gisborne, Last Night. In the course of the Motu River murder trial, Peeti T°P>) brother of the accused, said there was an arrangement between accused, his father, and himself to say that Zambucca loft their house before the accused. The suggestion to hide the guns and cartridges was made by accused on hearing at Opofjki that there was. a case against him. His Honour dismissed an objection to a question as to whether the witness ]qul since been asked to change his evidence, and upheld the witness. Witness said he told his father and another Native something that he had learned in gaol, and accused became very angry. He (witness) -then asked to be put in a separate cell.

Koopn Arniti, re-called, said that at the time of the Opotiki preliminary trial, he went to say good-bye to accused, who gave fiim a penny “on account of him nnmlering the man.”

An interpreter explained that the giving of a penny was a sort of religions rite, and the coin would - be handed over (o a, priest of the .Ringatu Church. ■ . To His Honour: Accused was p sort of grand-nephew of his. . His Honour: Was tKe penny given to pay for a prayer for accused’s soul, or for a prayer to get him out of trouble ? - 1

Witness: To get. him out of. this troiible.

Sam Topi, accused’s father, said Rutene left the house after Zambucca. Witness heard somebody, say on the following Thursday: “Clean the guns and hide the cartridges.” He thought it was the accused’s voice. He was not sure. The family were now. outcasts, not because it was thought that accused had committed the crime, hut because Zamhucca was last seen alive at their pah.