HANGING MYSTERY IN OPOTIKI SHED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 169, 7 October 1927, Page 16

HANGING MYSTERY IN OPOTIKI SHED

INQUEST FAILS TO SOLVE PROBLEM (From Our Own Correspondent) OPOTIKI, To-day. An inquest in connection with the death of a Maori j r outh named Percy Wira Wipaki, took place before Mr. P.. A. Crawford, coroner, on Thursday. The evidence showed that deceased met his death by hanging in remarkable circumstances on Monday evening. The boy, who was aged about 18 years, had, apparently, played a prank by standing on a box putting his head through a rope with a three-foot loop. When found the body was hanging limply with the rope under the chin, but the rope had not pressed hard on the windpipe. Medical evidence showed that the rope had pressed the side of the neck against the arteries, causing a quick loss of consciousness. The youth then died of asphyxiation. The boy was well-behaved, and, apparently had no intention of committing suicide. The farmer for whom deceased worked, stated that the boy was fond of playing pranks and several times had tried to scare the family.

Mr. N. V. Hodgson, on behalf of deceased’s relatives, stated the latter did not consider there was any evidence of foul play. The relatives only wished to know if his death was accidental or deliberate. The fact that deceased’s body bore marks on the lower part probably accounted for the circulation of the rumours of murder.

P. J. Jennings, for whom deceased worked, stated that he had been told that it was being reported in Opotiki that he had murdered the youth. The coroner returned a verdict of death due to hanging. There was no evidence to show whether death was wilful or accidental.