Accused sick, case adjourned

THE case of a lawyer facing a murder charge for the death of his wife has been adjourned to next month because he was sick yesterday.
Senior Magistrate Cosmas Bidar adjourned the case of Felix Kange, 30, to July 7 after his counsel Fredrick Lunge submitted that he was unfit to be arraigned  in court yesterday.
Bidar said Kange would remain in custody at the Waigani Police Station until he returned to court for his charge to be formally read to him.
Lunge did not specify in court Kange’s illness.
Kange is also facing a charge of escaping from lawful custody.
Regarding this charge (escaping from lawful custody), Lunge made a submission under Section 139 of the Criminal Code Act that the charge was misconceived.
He said until a person was proven guilty by the court for escaping from lawful custody, the charge should not apply.
Lunge argued that Kange was yet to be proven guilty on the charge of escaping from lawful custody.
However, Bidar told Lunge to make a proper submission regarding that charge.
Kange, from Maia village in Pangia, Southern Highlands, was arrested and charged by police on allegations that he had killed his wife using a firearm at his residence in Port Moresby on May 14.
He is charged with murder and escaping from lawful custody.