THE ZAMBUKKA MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1921, Page 5

THE ZAMBUKKA MURDER.

ONE ACCUSED DISMISSED. RUTENE TOPI FOR TRIAL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Opotiki, Last Night. Ronald Saxby denied having issued a message for the natives to clean their guns and hide the cartridges in the whare. Matenga, who is at present serving three years’ sentence in gaol for assaulting, said, he was with Rutene in the Gisborne gaol when Rutene told witness he left home before Zambukka, waited for him at the Motu River, shot him, robbed him, and planted the money amounting to £163 15s. The last witness gave lengthy evidence of the investigations leading to the arrest of accused and read signed statements of Rutene and Peeta as to their movements on November 4. The statement by Peeti after the arrest stated that Rutene left home before the others had finished dinner. When witness was returning from getting wood for a roller he met Rutene near the trax?k across the Motu River. Rutene gave witness a double barrelled gun and told him to take it home as he was going to the station. Witness took the gun home. When Mr. Nolan, announced that there were no more witnesses Rutene replied to a question: “I have nothing to say.” Peeti insisted on making a statement, on oath and went into the witness box. He gave a detailed account of his movements on the day of the murder. He said Rutene left the dinner table before the others had finished and went away on horseback. Witness left home about 3.30 to get timber up the river bed. He met Teara Ngaroki who had previously passed Zafnbukka. Witness saw no one else. He went a mile up thq river and marked the timber he wanted. On returning he met Rutene, who gave witness the gun which he took home. Mr. Burnard, counsel for the defence, submitted there was no evidence against Peeti Topi. His movements on the day of the murder were satisfactorily accounted for.

Mr. Kenrick, S.M., agreed that Peeti’s story agreed with the evidence of the other witnesses. He would dismiss the case against Peeti and commit Rutene Topi for trial at the Supreme Court at Gisborne on March 13.