The Waigani District Court is expected to make a ruling on December 18 on whether it has sufficient evidence to commit Jiwaka businessman Justin Parker to stand trial in the National Court.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar on Friday (Dec 11) indicated he will proceed to a ruling next Friday whether or not police prosecution files its submissions before the court.
Bidar indicated this after taking note of Parker’s lawyer’s submission to have the case thrown out after prosecution did not file submissions in response to the defence submission.
Ian Molloy, who was briefed out by Ashurst Lawyers to represent Parker in court, yesterday said his client had been in custody for the past six months and that police had had since December 4 to respond to submissions.
Prosecution told the court that submissions were not filed due to only one police prosecutor taking carriage of all the cases before Magistrate Bidar.
A ruling is expected next Friday.
Parker and his co-accused Akai Andekumo both appeared before the court yesterday.
43 year old Parker of Minj, Jiwaka is facing allegations of willfully murdering his chief aircraft engineer, Lapan Nason on June 8.
The charge arose from an assault incident that allegedly took place at Mr Nason’s home at Gorobe St, Badili on June 6.
Both defendants remain in custody.