Charges dismissed for lack of evidence

TWO men in East New Britain were acquitted from wilful murder charges due to inconsistencies in evidence against them.
The Kokopo National Court last week dismissed the charges against Mazura Aba and Graham Deckson.
The two were initially charged for the wilful murder of a Samuel George at Watara village on the main Duke of York island on Dec 9, 2015.
The state alleged that the two accused stabbed the victim.
Justice Salatiel Lenalia presiding over the case said there was direct evidence by the prosecution and defence witnesses that the two were at the scene of the killing.
According to the prosecution evidence, two out of the six witnesses said they did not see the person who stabbed the victim.
“I find there are a number of inconsistencies in the prosecution evidence. The court finds contradiction on the evidence of the witnesses,” Lenalia said.
He said due to the inconsistencies in the prosecution case, the court was not convinced beyond reasonable doubt of the guilt of the two accused.
He dismissed the case and ordered that their bail money be refunded.