Cop to face trial over Garden Hills deaths

A POLICEMAN who allegedly killed two men at Garden Hills in Port Moresby last year has been committed for trial in the National Court.
Committal court magistrate Danny Wakikura, when committing Komeng Gubag, 34, from Sumkar’s Wakon village in Madang, in Waigani yesterday, said he had considered Gubag’s statement made last week denying the allegations.
This, he said, could be properly justified in the trial court.
“Your statement can be properly made in the National Court and bring in witnesses to give evidence to prove your innocence,” the magistrate said.
Magistrate Wakikura said he had made a ruling on the sufficiency of the police evidence that it was enough for Gubag to be tried.
Wakikura then told Gubag that his ruling on evidence was based on circumstantial evidence.
“Which means there is no direct evidence to link you to the offence,” he said.
“But there was other evidence which are in the evidence that could be implicated on you.”
He said whatever application to challenge the evidence could be given equal opportunity in National Court.
The matter returns on Aug 15 in the National Court listing for the trial process to continue.