CONSTABLE TO BE TRIED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 919, 12 March 1930, Page 1

CONSTABLE TO BE TRIED

SEQUEL TO DEATH OF SAMOAN YOUTH SUSPENDED PENDING GRAVE CHARGE H.M.S. DUNEDIN TO WITHDRAW SOON Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. THE Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, has been advised by the Administrator of Western Samoa that, as a result of the death of the Samoan, Molia, Lance-Corporal Ricketts, of the Samoan Police Force, has been suspended from duty and is to stand his trial for manslaughter. This will enable the whole circumstances of the fatality to be fully investigated. Sir Joseph Ward added that H.M.S. Dunedin expects to le? ve Apia for New Zealand on Friday next.

The finding of the coroner, Mr. J. H. Luxford, at the inquest on the Samoan, Moila. who met his death in the mandated territory recently, was announced by the Prime Minister some weeks ago. The coroner said he intended to record a formal verdict as tt would be improper at the present stage to make any comment. “My verdict as.” lie stated, "that Molia died at Apia Hospital on January 27, 1930, as a result of a gunshot wound inflicted by a revolver bullet fired by LanceCorporal Ricketts, of the Samoan police, on January 22, 1930.” With reference to the inquest on Molia, the Administrator, Mr. S. S. Allen, advised the Prime Minister That all other evidence was contrary to deceased’s own account of the accident (in which Molia stated that he was fired at from a distance of a few inches as he was sitting on the ground).