MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1943, Page 5

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

DEATH OF MAORI WOMAN.

TRUCK DRIVER SENT TO TRIAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., February 9. In the Magistrates’ Court, Foxton, yesterday, James Trevor Morgan, truck driver, aged 28, was charged before Mr Lawry, S.M., with manslaughter arising from the death of Alice Takarua on the HimatangiFoxton road on the night of Sunday, January 24. Following the hearing of evidence, accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Palmerston North. Hinewai Hotereni, a Maori, girl, said that at 5 p.m. on the night of the tragedy she, with Rosina Nepia, Mary Kemura and Alice Takarua, went from the' pa toward the Takaruas’ home. After going some distance they entered a car driven by accused, who had inquired the vzay to Foxton, to which town they drove and liquor was procured there. On returning to Himatangi, the car was stopped, Morgan and Alice Takarua drinking. They then went to a house on the Palmerston North side of Motuiti Station, where further drinking occurred, eight persons being present, and they remained for about four hours. Certain of the party were taken to their homes in the car and on its return Morgan remained in it with the engine running. Alice Takarua had entered the car, sitting sideways with the door open, and the next thing they; knew was the car had moved off at a fast speed, with Alice Takarua calling to them. Some of those present had raced after the car. All were yelling, witness being unable to make sense of what was being shouted. The car returned half an hour later. When witness approached it. she found Alice Takarua on the road unconscious and she died after the arrival of the police. It would be midnight when Alice had entered the car. Dr P. P. Lynch, pathologist, Wellington, gave evidence of an examination of the body at Palmerston North. He said the only feature of note about the clothing was that the back of the costume coat was. covered in road dust. Other than that the clothing was not disturbed. He later made a postmortem examination. He said Alice Takarua must have fallen heavily on to the back of her head. He said that death resulted from a fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain. He had found blood on the left cuff of the coat Morgan had been wearing at the time. From other investigations made, witness was of opinion that Alice Takarua had been under the influence of liquor at the time of her death. • Several other witnesses also gave evidence. .