Lawyers encounter discrepancies

LAWYERS in the Watarais villagers’ claims for damages trial have encountered many discrepancies in the affidavits of plaintiffs who have so far tendered their affidavits this week before the National Court in Lae.
Since the start of the trial for assessment of damages last Monday, there have been discrepancies found in the affidavits of most of the 230 plaintiffs, who have formally tendered their affidavits up to Wednesday this week causing difficulties for their lawyer George Epor.
Mr Epor from Steeles Lawyers, who is representing over 800 plaintiffs, had difficulties calling the plaintiffs to formally tender their affidavits.
During the trial, Mr Epor found that many of the plaintiffs either died, while 290 of the 520 plaintiffs called from the villages of Watarais, Marawasa, Ragitzaria, Marasasa and Atzunas failed to turn up which resulted in the dismissal of their claims.
The court also discovered that those who turned up included people as young as 11 and 12 years old to give evidence.
Also it became apparent that many of the plaintiffs did not understand the contents and implications of their affidavits before signing them.
The lawyer representing the State, Peter Kuman, of Posman Kua Aisi Lawyers, has been persistent and at times brutal with cross-examining many of the plaintiffs who gave contradictory testimonies as to their age, the losses they suffered, their claims in the writ of summons and what they were claiming in their respective affidavits.

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