Nation Page

Lawyers warned over adjournment

By PETER MIVA
NATIONAL Court judge Justice George Manuhu will not hesitate to dismiss criminal cases if lawyers continuously seek adjournment.
Lae-based Justice Manuhu told the court yesterday that there were 300 criminal cases scheduled for hearing before the National Court and that a delay would set off a chain reaction.
Since criminal hearings began on Monday, Justice Manuhu had yet to set one for trial even when he had warned lawyers to prepare during call-over last week.
He said in court yesterday that because he had reminded lawyers to get their witnesses ready for the trials, he saw no good reason for the delays.
Two trials, three plea and bail matters were listed on the criminal court list yesterday morning.
Prominent of the two trials was that of accused murderers Carl Arua Benny and Menos Duma Don, both indicted for the brutal murder of Australian Russell Green at his Eriku home on Nov 9, 2005.
Benny, 18, of mixed Central and Simbu parentage, was arrested on Christmas Day 2005.
Don, 22, from Masaweng village in the Finschhafen district of Morobe province was arrested on Jan 6 last year.
The case is expected to be heard this week depending on the availability of witnesses.
State lawyer Jack Pambel sought adjournment and told the court that the witnesses for the Green murder trial were expected to be in court but were not.
Mr Pambel also told the court that the other trial matter involving one Martin Anio, had to be adjourned also because the key witness has yet to arrive from Goroka.
Justice Manuhu told the court that the witnesses should have been arranged prior to the trial dates and he saw no reason why lawyers wanted to wait until the trial started.


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