MAORI’S DEATH

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21187, 9 August 1940, Page 7

MAORI’S DEATH

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE AFFRAY OUTSIDE HALL SURFACEMAN FOR TRIAL (Special to Times) TE KUITI, Thursday A railway surfaceman, Albert Collins, of Ohaupo, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., on a charge of manslaughter. After the hearing of evidence, Collins, who pleaded not guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court at Hamilton for trial. The charge arose out of the death of a Hangatiki Maori, Jeffrey Koroheke, in the Waikato Hospital on June 12 from injuries alleged to have been received from a bottle thrown by Collins during a brawl outside the Hangatiki dance hall about midnight on May 11. Evidence was given by Paul Nikora, a Maori labourer, -of Hangatiki, that he became involved in a scuffle with a man named Perkins outside the dance hall, and Collins intervened. Witness said he lashed out at Collins and as he did so Collins threw a bottle, which grazed Nikora’s head and then hit Koroheke. A few days later witness was fined £2 on a charge of assaulting Collina.

Statement as Evidence Constable Fraser gave evidence that accused said that as he left the hall he saw Nikora engaged in an argument with Perkins on the side of the road, and then, as he passed, Nikora, without any warning or provocation, struck him on the nose with his fist, felling him to the ground. As Collins was getting to his feet he grasped a bottle lying on the ground and threw it at Nikora. It grazed Nikora’s head and went on to strike Koroheke, a spectator, who had taken no part in the brawl. Collins was then struck again, he said, and was knocked to the ground. He said he could remember nothing further until he awoke in the Te Kuiti Hospital.

Evidence was given that Koroheke and his wife walked to their home a quarter of a mile away. The following night his condition became worse and he received daily medical treatment until on May 20 he was admitted to hospital, where he died from complications following upon a depressed fracture of the skull.