SENTENCE OF DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1921, Page 5

SENTENCE OF DEATH.

THE ONGAROTO TRAGEDY. END OF THIRD TRIAL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hamilton, Last Night. The trial of Hakaraia Te Kahu on a charge of murdering Patrick Richard Elliot at Ongaroto on Easter Sunday was concluded in the Supreme Court before Mr. Justice Stringer to-day. The SolicitorGeneral (Mr. W. C. McGregor) and the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. H. T. Gillies) appeared for the Crown, and Mr. M. H. Hampson for the''accused.

The jury, after a retirement of three hours, returned a verdict of guilty, and prisoner was sentenced to death. Mr. Hampson asked His Honor to grant leave to appeal under section 442 against His Honor’s direction to the jury in the second trial, when he commented upon the fact that prisoner had not been called upon to give evidence. Mr. Hampson held that as this was published in the papers it had caused a prejudicial effect upon, the minds of the public, of whom the jury consisted. His Honor said he did not see that what happened at the second trial had anything to do with the present trial, but he would give Mr. Hampson every assistance if he desired to go to the Court of Appeal. Prisoner, who bore up stolidly, throughout the Wial, showed no signs of emotion until the death sentence was pronounced, when his eyes filled with tears, and he showed signs of partial collapse.