THE OMATA MURDERS.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VII, Issue 9, 31 May 1860, Page 3

THE OMATA MURDERS.

We hear that it has been said by some, with reference to the late murders of Europeans at Omata hy certain individuals of the Taranaki and Ngatiruanui tribes, that they were merely acts of retaliation and not properly murders". We ask, In retaliation for what? VYhat injury had been inflicted on these: tribes by the Pakeha? The only answer that can be given is, None whatever; It is in vain to attempt to palliate the foul crime of which these men have been guilty. The Pakehas who were killed at Omata were cruelly murdered in cold blood by the men at whose hands they met their death. In thislight only can the act bs regarded by the Law of England and we need scarcely remind our intelligent readers that the lav/ of England is the Law of New Zealand.

In connection with this subject we now place before our readers the result of the investigation which has taken place in accordance with English law, referring them to pp. yi. and vii. of the Introduction to the Summary of English Law,—lt is the duty of an officer called a Coroner <l to enqnire into ihe cause of any sudden or violent death. For instance if a corpse has been found in the water or anywhere else, the Coroner summons a Jury, consisting of twelve men, of the neighbouring residents to enquire into the cause of the death." If in the opinion of this Jury the deceased has been murdered by some one, a verdict is returned to that effect, and as soon as thesuspectedmurderer or murderers can be found they are apprehended and tried according to law. We now direct attention to the following verdict leturned by the Jury who enquired into the cause of the deaths of the Pakehas whose bodies were found at Omala.