Curse spirit 'looked like a lion'

'You could see something that didn't belong in there'

The Dominion Post

Last updated 14:13 12/05/2009

Text Size

Photo gallery: Makutu case accused

1 of 9

CRAIG SIMCOX/The Dominion Post Zoom

Hall Jones Wharepapa, 46, is jointly charged with the manslaughter of Janet Moses.

Relevant offers

Wellington

A child refugee still on the run Cafe will be closed for months Car thief acquitted of kidnap Ka-thunks get on the nerves of Makara residents Officer attacked at checkpoint Slashing ends sportsman's 21st birthday celebrations Battle Hill badge find sends enthusiast back to the 19th century Port lowers use of fumigant outside The tight grip of new-age bullying Monthly bus pass to go to Snapper

A teenage boy subjected to some of the same water-based curse-removing ritual alleged to have killed a young woman said everything that went on was horrible.

His video-taped interview with police two days after the October 12, 2007, death of Janet Moses was played to a jury in the High Court at Wellington today.

"I can tell you that everything that went on in that, that room...was horrible, was horrible and something that me and [name suppressed] ... don't ever want to experience again," the boy said.

He was 15 at the time of the interview and cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Ms Moses was unsettled, fidgeting and bad spirits were trying to possess or get into her and others.

The boy said Ms Moses, himself and four other young people were vulnerable and the spirits had to be scared out of them.

Blessings were given and comfort and love offered to protect the person and make them better.

Water was used to cleanse the person, poured in their eyes, mouth and nose.

Ms Moses' eyes and mouth were held open.

"You could see something that didn't belong in there and it didn't want to come out," he said.

The spirit looked like a lion and was hurting Ms Moses, clawing her.

The boy said Ms Moses would not try to prevent them doing what was good for her but he also said she was trying to stop it so her arms and legs were held.

"Yeah, but it wasn't Janet, it was a lion."

The court has heard previously that a kaumatua, or elder, advised to take a stolen concrete lion statue back to the Greytown hotel from where Ms Moses' sister had taken it in an effort to remove the makutu or curse.

Nine of Ms Moses aunts and uncles on her mother's side are on trial charged with her manslaughter.

THE ACCUSED

* Nine members of Janet Moses' extended family are charged with her manslaughter, which the Crown alleges was the result of an attempt to remove a curse a makutu or evil spirit.

* The accused are: John Tahana Rawiri, 49, Georgina Aroha Rawiri, 50, Aroha Gwendoline Wharepapa, 48, Hall Jones Wharepapa, 46, Tanginoa Apanui, 42, Angela Rangiaroha Orupe, 46, Gaylene Tangiohorere Kepa, 44, Alfred Hughes Kepa, 48, and Glenys Lynette Wright, 52. All are siblings of Ms Moses' mother, or their partners.

* Two people, whose names are suppressed, are charged with cruelty to a 14-year-old girl in their care.

Ad Feedback

* The charges date from October 12, 2007, at Wainuiomata, the time it is alleged by the Crown that Ms Moses and others were subjected to a ceremony resulting in her drowning.