Justin Parker

Justin Parker filed an application seeking bail, pending the outcome of his appeal against conviction and sentence to 13 years in prison.

He filed the bail application on grounds he had a high prospect of success in the appeals against conviction and sentence. The welfare of his family was another ground.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia refused to grant bail, dismissing the application along with the ground of his family’s welfare.

The court however did find that Parker had high prospects in his appeal which had four grounds.

He was sentenced last month to 13 years over the murder of Lapan Nason in 2015.

Today the Supreme Court allowed an application asking the court to appeal his sentence, which was handed down on August 21.

He was previously allowed to appeal against his conviction, dated May 29.

These two appeals will be joined and heard at the same time. The joined appeal will be set at a later date.

Justice Stephen Kassman, in granting leave to hear the appeal, was satisfied the ground proposed had merits.

His lawyers filed the case, asking the court to hear the appeal, against his conviction of manslaughter that was handed down on May 29 at the Waigani National court.

The appeal is on questions of fact.

He was found guilty on May 29 for unlawfully assaulting Lapan Nason on June 6, 2015, that led to his death two days later.

Parker was convicted for manslaughter, the lesser homicide charge after he stood trial for the charge of wilful murder in the Waigani National Court.  

This appeal was filed in June, after his conviction, pending the court’s sentence.

Parker was found guilty on May 29 for manslaughter over the unlawful assault of Lapan Nason on June 6, 2015, that led to his death two days later.

He was convicted on the lesser homicide charge of manslaughter, after he stood trial over the charge of wilful murder.

Trial judge and Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, in sentencing Parker, said the violence applied on the late Nason and the confrontational behaviour by Parker was totally unnecessary.

Parker was seeking extension of time to file an appeal against his conviction of manslaughter.

Lawyers representing Parker and the public prosecutor appeared before the Supreme Court this morning.

The state did not oppose the application but told the court it was filed prematurely, as they still had 24 days to comply with the 40 days appeal time frame.

Parker’s lawyers intend to file an appeal against his conviction on May 29 but are still awaiting the written judgment and were seeking an extension of time to be allowed by the Supreme Court to file that appeal.

The Waigani National Court today convicted Parker for manslaughter, the lesser homicide charge after he stood trial for the charge of wilful murder.

Parker remains on bail at the discretion of the court and is expected back in court on July 3. 

Meanwhile, he will undergo interview with the Community Based Correction officers who will then write a pre-sentence report for him to assist the court decide on his sentence.

Submissions on his penalty sentence will be done on July 3.

All evidence that will be considered by the court from witnesses closed yesterday afternoon.

Trial judge and Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika will now proceed to hear submissions from Parker’s lawyers and the state on the evidence they provided in court since Monday.

The state called eight witnesses in its case, these included the late Lapan Nason’s daughter, who is the state’s key witness, four medical doctors, two colleagues of Nason, the arresting officer and a forensic photographer.

Parker is accused to have caused grievous bodily harm to Lapan Nason on June 6, 2015, which resulted in his death two days later.

The trial resumed this morning where the state presented to the court the shirt that was worn by the deceased during the assault.

Police arresting officer attached with CID homicide, first constable Lenny Verage, showed the court the shirt. He conducted the record of interview on Parker on 11 June 2015.

A genetic medical expert also gave evidence of the shirt going to his possession for testing.

Day two of the trial today, saw the State’s key witness, the daughter of the late Lapan Nason give an account of what she witnessed that morning before the court.

Elsa Nason was the only person who saw what transpired between her late father and the accused, Justin Parker between 4am and 6am of June 6, 2015.

Her evidence is crucial in the case which took both prosecution and the defence the whole morning to cross examine her.

She was the fourth witness from the state.

Deputy Police Commissioner (operations) Jim Andrews assured the National Court today that the State’s key witness, who is the late Lapan Nason’s daughter, will be flown into Port Moresby on Tuesday.

He told the court that Police Commissioner Gary Baki authorised cheques this morning to arrange for late Lapan’s daughter to be flown in.

Commissioner Baki is said to be in Buka today and Andrews stepped in to explain to the court this afternoon, why the State’s key witness was not brought to Port Moresby in time for the commencement of the trial today.