MAKARAKA MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2709, 18 March 1924, Page 3

MAKARAKA MURDER.

TRIAL OF SCOTT BEGINS,

Gisborne, Last Nigbt. The trial commended to-day in the Supreme Court, of Robert Henry Scott on a charge of murdering Gwendoline Catherine Murray, 12 years of age, at Makaraka, on January 28. it will be remembered tbe accused was arrested at Matawai, 50 miles from Gisborne two days after the murder, he having gone to a settler’s home and asked that the police be communicated with. In a statement made to the police on that occasion, accused admitted that he interferred with the girl and lield her down by the throat. When tile girl did not answer lie realised what he had done, and bed. In the statement he 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. v Accused at the court this morning, pleaded in a linn tone not guilty. Evideuce on the lines of that in the lower court was given, that the girl was sent on a message along a lonely road to a store but did not come home. Her mother was not uneasy, and thought the girl had stopped with friends, as she had often 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 heard screams at eight o’clock on the previous night, but thought the noise came from a passing mo-tor-car. Medical evidence was given to tbe effect that the girl had been outraged. On the right cheek were live marks and on the left cheek was a large abrasion. The marks were consistent with a powerful left hand grip. The cause of death was strangulation. Other evidence was given to the effect that the girl wus seen on the way to the store and also at the store, leaving on her return journey just before eight o’clock. A Tolaga Bay sbeep-farmer said he picked up accused in his car on January 28 as witness was coming to Gisborne from tbe coast and brought accused to town. Other witnesses stated that a man resembling accused was seen walking out towards Makaraka on the morning of January 28. A local sheep-owner said he picked up accused walking out to Makaraka and gave, him a lift in his car. Accused then said be had no money to get to Motuhora, where he expected to get work, so witness gave him some. Further evidence was given that accused was seen in the Makaraka Hotel at about noon on January 28. He then started to walk back to Gisborne, being picked up by a car and taken to the outskirts of the town.

Other witnesses said prisoner was in an hotel bar in Gisborne between live and six o’clock, and later, a man resembling prisoner was seen at about eight o’clock on the way to Makaraka again. At this stage the proceedings were adjourned till today. ±^imi