ATTACK ON BULL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 243, 3 June 1932, Page 7

ATTACK ON BULL

FEARFUL WOUNDS INFLICTED WITH RAZOR-EDGED SLASHER MAORT IMPRISONED In the Police Court on Wednesday morning a Maori named Nepia Porikapa was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour for cruelly ill-treating a bull by striking it with a slasher. Accused elected to be summarily dealt with. Sergeant Millar in evidence said that a bull belonging to one Atawhi Hauraki got into a paddock belonging to accused and a fight ensued between it and the accused's bull. The in trudihg bull was defeate'd and tried to get out of the paddock, but became entangled with the fence. While it was thus caught accused struek it several blows with a slash-hook, which was produced in court and which as the sergeant said, was as sharp as a razor. Sergeant Millar stated that the injuries inflicted were absolutely shocking. Mr. T. Urquhart, the Iocal stock inspector, stated that he had examined •the injured animal on May 31 and he found that the tail had been almost severed at the root so that it hung by the skin only, the wound being six inches long and three inches deep. In the right buttock there was a wound about eight inches in circumference and 2 inches to two and ahalf inches deep at the base. There was a deep wound in the left buttock and another wound on the left hock. He stated that he had never seen anything like it before. In reply to a question from the Bench witness said he considered that there was a possibility of the animal recovering if it was properly looked after and kept it in a loose box but it was too early to say definitely yet. "We look on this as a most fiendish crime, and we are going to inflict th full penalty of six months' imprisonment with hard labour," said the presiding Justice. "We only regret that we are unable to inflict some. corporal punishment on the man himself."