Calls to victim unanswered, court told

Barbara Moka

A social worker decided to report slain Rawene woman Barbara Moka's disappearance to police after not receiving any replies to numerous phone calls and text messages.

Mary Korewha of Hokianga Health gave evidence in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday in the trial of Matiu Korewha, 44, who is accused of murdering his partner and dumping her body in June last year.

The social worker is related to the accused Korewha through her husband.

She said Ms Moka self-referred to Hokianga Health in a bid to get back her four children after not having them for seven years as they were in the care of Child, Youth and Family (CYF).

Ms Korewha said both Ms Moka and Matiu Korewha participated in a plan on how they could strengthen their relationship in order to get her children back.

In January last year, Ms Korewha said she was informed by Matiu Korewha's sister there was a domestic dispute between the accused and Ms Moka during which she had received two black eyes.

Ms Korewha said the couple disengaged from counselling sessions after the dispute.

She last saw Ms Moka during a tangi at Omanaia's Te Piiti Marae on June 8 from where the mother of four went missing.

She said Matiu Korewha texted her to say Ms Moka left the marae at 2am after a non-physical argument and her phone was on the charger at home.

Calls to Ms Moka's phone went to the message service. On June 10, Ms Korewha said she reported her disappearance to Rawene police.