MOTU MURDER TRIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1922, Page 5

MOTU MURDER TRIAL.

FURTHER EVIDENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, March 18. The murder trial was resumed this morning. The first witness to-day was Ronald Gordon Saxby, who gave evidence respecting the n.ovements of accused. He denied that he had given a message to anybody that the natives should clean the>r guns. Constable Blakeley deposed to finding the body, the watch and chain being missing, but the bar of the chain was left in the waistcoat. Later. Tisdall, gunsmith, of Rotorua, in crossexamination, said he could not say to what type of cartridge the No. 5 shot found in Zambukka belonged. No. 5 shot was not a popular size in New Zealand. Detective McLeod said he obtained a statement from accused. Counsel for accused raised the objection that the statements were replies to a crossexamination through an interpreter, and it was probable accused gave lying answers. The judge held that the statements were in order. Constable Neal deposed that when Peeri, accused’s brother, was arrested, he (Peeti) said it was through! the actions of other people he was in this trouble. The accused, Ratene, had not replied to the charge. Whare Matenga gave evidence that accused told him in gaol that he shot Zambukka and stole £163 and a watch, and that he planted the boody. Accused told him that his brother had turned on. him. Witness received no information about the case, except from accused to counsel for accused. In his own case the judge had not believed him. He admitted that at eighteen he was gaoled for rape for 10 years, and then sent to gaol for two years for indecent assault, and that subsequently he got one month for theft, and was now serving three years for assault.