A MAORI'S DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1920, Page 5

A MAORI'S DEATH.

SEQUEL IN SUPREME COURT. . MURDER CHARGE REDUCED. By Telegraph.—Press Association Auckland, Laat Night. A charge of murder against a young Maori named Hona Herewini, otherwine Ilona Selwyn, from Awanui, was commenced at the Supreme Court this morning, before Mr. Justice Chapman. The accused was charged that at Awanui, on February 7. he murdered a fellow Maori named Mei Hemi Hui, 22 years of age. I Tn opening the case, the Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., stated, that on Saturday, February 7, a number of young Maoris wore about tjio Awanui Hotel in the afternoon, some of them belonging to Awanui and some coming from Kaingnroa. After the hotel closed at 0 p.m. they remained for n time about the stable yard of the hotel. Some time after 7 p.m. prisoner and Mei Hui were seen fighting and were separated. The prisoner was advised to get his horse and go home. He ivent to get his horse and Ilui walked towards the gate leading to the road. Then prisoner, who had got on his horse, rode towards the gate, and the Crown case was that as he rode past Ilui he inflicted a very severe and fatal blow on Hui's head with some weapon, either a piece of wood or a stirrup iron. Hui fell unconscious, and after trying to revive him. all the Maoris went away. The most extraordinary feature of the ease was that this injured young man seemed to have been left lying in the yard. A fact that was wrapped in mystery was his removal, for the body was found later, only after three or four days' search, in a drain a quarter of a mile away' from the hotel. Prior to the rising of the Court tho Crown Prosecutor said lie wished to reduce the charge to one of manslaughter. Judge Chapman concurred.