Court examines claim

By BOURA GORUKILA
A COURT has conducted a voire dire after a man, accused of robbing Tropicair staff at the Jackson Airport in 2016, claimed that his confessional statement (CS) and record of interview (ROI) were made and signed by him involuntarily.
A voire dire is an investigation into the truth or admissibility of evidence, held during a trial.
Justice Panuel Mogish, in the National Court, considered issues on the voire dire as to whether or not the CS and the ROI of the accused, Alphonse Lance Moha, were obtained voluntarily and fairly and whether or not the CS and ROI should be admitted by concern.
Justice Mogish concluded that the accused had not given credible evidence to the facts relied on in support of the claim and determined that the CS and the ROI of the accused were obtained voluntarily and fairly and compelled into evidence and admitted by consent.
In the trial proceedings, the State called three witnesses – Tetmah Jonah, Michael Koupere and Snr Sgt Joe Puana.
And for the purposes of the voire dire and in relation to the accused, six witnesses were called to give evidence in the substantive trial.
They gave evidence when objections were made to the CS and ROI.