KOITERANGI INQUESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1941, Page 4

KOITERANGI INQUESTS

THE CORONER’S VERDICTS

MEMBERS OF POLICE FORCE COMMENDED. SAFEGUARDS RECOMMENDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HOKITIKA, This Day. The Coroner, Mr A. E. Benjamin, gave the following verdicts at the Koiterangi tragedy .inquests this morning:— That Sergeant William Cooper and Constables Frederick William Jordan and Percy Campbell Tulloch died at Koiterangi on October 8; that Richard John Maxton Coulson died at Koiterangi on October 9; that Gregory George Thomas Hutchison died at the Westland Hospital on October 10; that Constable Edward Mark Best died at the Westland Hospital on October 11— all from gunshots fired by Eric Stanley Graham with intent to kill. The first three were killed outright on. October 8 and Coulson on October 9. Hutchison was injured on October 9 and Best was injured on October 8. That Eric Stanley Graham died at the Westland Hospital on October 21, 1941. from a gunshot fired by Constable Quirke, of .the New Zealand Police Force, on October 20, 1941, at Koiterangi, in the execution of his duty, and that he is to be commended for the efficient manner in which he carried out his orders. The Coroner expressed his horror and regret at an occurrence that hid cost the lives of six splendid men and expressed the sympathy of the community. He complimented Constable Quirke on carrying out his ordered duty in a prompt and successful manner, which removed a great danger before any further loss of life had occurred. The relief given to the whole community was . such that it showed how grave a danger had been averted by his action. There -was nothing in the action of the deceased police officers to warrant the action taken by Graham. The police- officers went in a peaceful manner to carry out their duty, without suspicion that such violent action would follow.. The Coroner added to his verdict a rider that the question of the prevention of further tragedies of a similar nature to the present one should receive the early attention of the authorities. He suggested that provision should be made so that a person threatening the lives of others could immediately be detained in an institution until such' time as it was safe for them to be at large. The law at present ,the Coroner said, appeared to 'be insufficient to ensure the safety of We. > /