THE OPUNAKE MURDER TRIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2417, 15 December 1880, Page 3

THE OPUNAKE MURDER TRIAL.

[ByTkMOGRaI’II.]

'Wellington, Dec., 15. At the Supreme Court Tulii’s case was resumed. In addition to the previous confession Constable Taylor, stationed at Opuaakc, gave the following stateHiont which was .made to him ,by Tifhi two days after the inquest. I bad no intention of killing the woman when I left. When we met I said “ where did you come from.” : She did not understand me. I continued to ask her. The woman spoke in English and I did not understand her. She was frightened and gave me money. She gave me sis; shillings and. I fourpence. I was on my horse at the time when I received the money. She said she would tell the soldiers about me, I was afraid of my crime of taking the money from the woman. I got oiT my horse and tied it to the fence, The woman ran away when she saw me tie up, the horse. I ran after her and threw her down on the ground, and choked her. T thought-that if I choked or.strangled her, she would die. I let her go, and a little while after she rose up. I then ran to her and cut (or stabbed) her throat. I choked her by the back of the neck, and drove her along so that she might be a distance fronf the road. When she had gone a distance she fell and I fell. I dragged her to a place where there was a large quantity of flax, and there hid her. I then went to catch ray horse, and heard Honi Piharaa’s buggy going along the road when they had passed I caught m} r horse and went; that is all.” The evidence is concluded, the. Ci’own Prosecutor and counsel for the defence have addressed the Jury, and the Judge sums up this afternoon. LATER The Judge’s summing r.p occupied twenty minutes, the jury: returned a verdict of guilty, and the Judge passed sentence of death.