Five accused persons who stood trial this week over the Tatana shooting of early 2015 have been discharged by the Waigani National Court from the murder charge they were facing.
Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika today discharged Philip Pokop, Lawrence Sausau, Ian Gunawi, Mariah Jones and Jeffrey Sheekiot from the murder allegations they were facing, putting a stop to their trial.
They were discharged after he upheld an application their lawyer moved in court.
At the close of state’s evidence yesterday, their lawyer this morning moved a no-case submission asking the court not to proceed to hear evidence from the accused in the case. This was on the ground the state did not meet certain requirements in the evidence act.
Their lawyer said the bullet shells that were found at the scene of the crime did not match any weapons that were allegedly used by the accused in the shooting.
Despite the state calling a number of witnesses who gave evidence against the cops, the court upheld the no-case submission because the bullet shells did not match the weapon allegedly used.
The court dismissed Philip Pokop, Lawrence Sausau, Ian Gunawi, Mariah Jones and Jeffrey Sheekiot from the charge they were facing and ordered their respective bails to be refunded.
They stood trial over allegations they shot the late Naime Saleh Tom, or Charlie Naime, at Tatana village on January 17, 2015.
They were at Tatana that day, investigating the murder of the late Harold Farapo, when they allegedly shot one of the two main suspects in the murder, the late Tom.