CHARGE OF MURDER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3511, 24 June 1920, Page 5

CHARGE OF MURDER.

THE MOKAU TRAGEDY. TRIAL OF PITA OPENS. WHANGAREI, June 22. The hearing of the charge of murder against Wiremu Pita (Billy Peters), was resumed before Mr F. H. Levien, S.M., at the Whaugarei Magistrate's Court this afternoon. Inspector Mullaney conducted the case for the police. The acting-Cor-oner Mr J. D. McKenzie, occupied a seat on the bench, and the coronial inquiry opened at Mokau. was by arrangement, taken simultaneously with the hearing of the capital charge. The accused is a man about 30 years of ga,e Of athletic build, with a shock of black hair and an engaging smile. Mr Woods, native interpreter, was retained by the Court and Judge Holland, of the Native Land Court, was present, and was accommodated near the bench. The courthouse was densely crowded. Messrs Carruth and Stout appeared for the accused. The accused was charged with ut dering Douglas Piripi on Sunday, May 30, at Mokau, a native settlement in the Helena Bay district. Piripiri, or Douglas Phillips, as he was more commonly known, was a native returned soldier, residing at Mokau with his native wife and six children. On the Sunday in question he was shot dead and. at first it was reported to be a case of suicide. But the opening of the cononial inquiry revealed circumstances that led to the arrest of the accused on the present charge.

VERDICT OF MURDER. AGAINST PERSON UNKNOWN. PITA COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. WHANGAREI, June 22. After a short retirement the jury returned the following verdict: 'We find that deceased, Douglas Kaupake Piripiri (Phillips) came to his death on May 30 at Mokau from a gunshot wound inflicted by some person or persons unknown other than deceased. We would also like to add that we consider undue use of liquor was a contributory factor to the act." At the resumption of the Court this morning Wiremu (Billy) Pita was formally charged with the murder of Douglas Kaupeka Piripiri (Phillips), and wa s committed for trial at the next sitting of the Auckland Supreme Court.