DEATH OF MAORI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 424, 4 August 1928, Page 5

DEATH OF MAORI

LORRY-DRIVER BEFORE COURT EVIDENCE OF INTOXICATION (From Our Own Correspondent) TE AROHA, Friday. The sequel to the fatal lorry accident at Waihou on July 14, when Mrs. Hiria Turawahio was killed, was the appearance in the Police Court to-day of the driver, John Walker, who was charged with having driven a vehicle while in a state of intoxication. He was also charged that by an act or omission he caused Mrs. Turawahio’s death. Mr. S. L. Patterson, S.M., presided.

with the coroner. Mr. J. Motley. J.P. Mr. J. Strang represented accused Jack Wharawhara said he engaged Walker to drive a party of Maoris ! from Springdale to \yaharoa. A stop j was made at the Waihou Hotel, where • the male members of the company | partook of drinks. He saw the driver 1 have two whiskies only. After they j had driven for a quarter of a mile, the j lorry went over an embankment. A | woman was killed, while another female was pinned underneath the lorry. Witness would not admit he was drunk. Several witnesses, including a doctor, said that accused was intoxicated, and unlit to drive, and a mechanic said tho brakes of the lorry were useless. Constable Manson said accused was intoxicated. Witness was satisfied that accused was intpxicated. and unfit to be in charge of a motor-vehicle. Three of the Maoris of the party' were drunk, one very much so. The accused, who pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence, was committed to the Supreme Court at Hamilton for trial. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased met her death by the capsizing of a lorry driven by John Walker.