MURDER CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1942, Page 3

MURDER CHARGE

MAORI FOUND GUILTY. IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HAMILTON, May 13. A verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy, was returned by the jury in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, against Hohua Ahiwaka Kino, charged with murdering his stepdaughter, Rita Amery, and he was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for life. The jury’s recommendation will be forwarded to the proper quarters. Dr Waddell said that death was caused by strangulation. The skull had been fractured by blows inflicted by a piece of wood, but these did not cause death. Deceased had an abnormal i thymus gland which would render her more prone than the average adult to fatal injury. Very slight pressure was applied to cause strangulation. Detective-Sergeant Murray gave evidenct that he found a note at the scene of the crime. It was signed “J. Kino” and bore the words, “I killed Rita and myself.” Witness added- that prisoner told him there was a struggle between him and Rita and he hit her on the head with a piece of wood and then choked her, and later cut his own throat. Prisoner gave evidence that when the girl went to work in Otorohanga he worried about her and wanted her to' return home. He persuaded her to go back with him and while with the girl he lost his memory. Everything went black and when he recovered his senses he had the girl by the' throat. He then saw that he had killed her.