Trial

Police officers to stand trial for assault

First Constable Onesmus Kiki attached to the Waigani Police Station and Senior Constable Dunstan Wunum attached to the Boroko Police Station appeared before the Waigani Committal Court on Tuesday, 6th of February, 2024.

They were committed by the Committal Court to stand for trial at the National Court due to sufficient evidence by the Police Prosecutor.

PNG In Cowboys Young Guns Squad

Zac Laybutt, rising star and kid brother of PNG Kumul five-eight Kyle Laybutt, alongside fellow Papua New Guineans Robert Derby and Ragarive Wavik, headline the Young Guns outfit boasting the Cowboys’ best emerging talents.

Laybutt scored a try and had another disallowed in the Cowboys’ NRL trial win against the Rabbitohs in Cairns last weekend.

The rangy outside back will form a dangerous centre pairing with Wavik, a Townsville Blackhawks junior.

Derby has been named on the wing alongside first year Young Guns flyer Lewis Mene.

Duban Committed To National Court

Magistrate Ben Kome on Wednesday 11 January, told the Committal Court that there is enough evidence to commit Duban to the higher court for three counts of misappropriation and one count of conspiracy.

Duban`s lawyer Bradley Wak said he will appeal against the decision on his client’s behalf, because they have identified technical errors. 

Hetinu gives evidence

Hetinu, former NCD Election Manager in the 2017 National General Election (NGE), was committed to stand trial to answer to allegations of accepting a bribe valued at K184, 300, from a particular candidate during the 2017 NGE in NCD.

When giving evidence today, he revealed that the money found in his car by Police, was to pay for food rations and allowance for polling officials in the three electorates, who did not have bank accounts.

Fr. Jan appears for mention at National Court

He was committed by the Waigani Committal Court on the 1st of September to stand trial for allegations of official corruption.

The suspended DHERST Secretary appeared before Justice Teresa Berrigan.

Fr. Jan’s K3,000 District court bail was converted to National court bail where he was ordered to appear on the 4th of October for trial.

Justice Teresa Berrigan also granted to allow him to travel to Ialibu, Southern Highlands in his capacity as the Executive Chairman of the Western Pacific University, after he had requested the court.  

MH17 plane crash: Trial hears trauma of relatives demanding justice

About 90 relatives will speak at the high-security court in Schiphol over the next three weeks.

International investigators say the plane was shot down with a missile fired by pro-Russian rebels.

Three Russians and a Ukrainian are on trial but none will appear in court. All four have denied involvement.

The Malaysian Airlines flight was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on 17 July 2014 when it was downed. It crashed in the Donetsk region, about 50km (30 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Simbu man’s trial on alleged human trafficking to continue

The trial against Willie Gare on six charges of human trafficking and one count of rape will continue after the court dismissed an application yesterday, which asked the court to acquit him of all the charges.

The trial against Gare commenced on 4 October at the Waigani National court with seven counts of human trafficking and one of rape.

Tari-Pori petition trial commences

Summons were also issued by the court today for the Tari Election manageress and Returning officer to appear in court this Friday.

Following the March 13 ruling which saw 10 of the 13 petition grounds dismissed, parties returned before Justice David Cannings today.

Two preliminary motions were addressed this morning by the court before trial commenced.

James Marape’s lawyer, Robert Leo asked the court to reconsider its decision of March 13, when it dismissed his objection to competency motion.

Tatana trial stopped, cops discharged

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.

Siblings to stand trial

The case of grievous bodily harm against Alma Jagiri (33), Bernard Jagiri (29) of Tufi, was committed to the Waigani National Court for trial.

They will go for listing before the National Court at the end of the month.

Their younger brother, a 17-year-old was also implicated in the allegations, however his case was dismissed from the Juvenile court.

Both went appeared before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli asking for the case against them to be struck out too however he said the evidence against Bernard showed that he was very much involved in the fight too.