EAST COAST MURDERS. SENTENCE OF DEATH.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 356, 3 April 1889, Page 5

EAST COAST MURDERS. SENTENCE OF DEATH.

Auckland, March 31. The trial of Hairi te Pira for the murder of Mr and Mrs Pook at VVaipiro was concluded at Gisborne yesterday. Mr Gully summed up the evidence for the prosecution. He addressed the jury eloquently for an hour. Mr Kenny proposed to call no evidence for the defence, and addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner. Judge Richmond likened the evidence to a bundle of sticks. The bundle might be broken stick "by stick, but the whole was strong. The case did nob depend on single facts, but on the whole correspondence. The boot and foot print might alone be sufficient warrant for conviction. Mr Kenny had given up the contention that r the prisoner took the inland route, admitting he took the beach past Mataiku. His Honor carefully reviewed the evidonce as to blood marks on the clothing, the prisoner's demeanour and conversation in gaol, and other points of evidence. He asked did the evidence leave their minds with any reasonable doubt of the prisoner's guilt. At halfpast one the jury retired, and at a quarter to five brought in a verdicb of guilty. The prisoner had nothing to say why sentence <of death should nob be passed on him. His Honor said the evidence on the whole satisfied the jury and himself that the prisoner was guilty of murder. His conviction was largely brought about by his own countrymen and relations. His Honor then pub on the black cap and passed the usual sentence of death. The prisoner never gave an expression of emotion throughout the sentence, and walked calmly away to gaol. He will be taken to Napier for execution.