Court grants bail to murder suspect

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
A JUDGE has used his discretion to grant bail to a teacher charged with wilful murder, saying that he (teacher) would not pose a threat to society based on his background.
Justice Jim Wala Tamate, presiding at the Waigani National Court, last week granted a K2,000 bail to the teacher who was allegedly involved in the killing of a man whose body was dumped at the 8-Mile back-road in Port Moresby two months ago.
The court heard that the teacher had 35 years teaching experience and recently got a job with the PNG Teachers Association.
The court heard that the teacher had standing in the community and that another person had deposed to have committed the alleged offence.
But Justice Tamate said that the teacher still did not show any exceptional circumstance in his bail application but used his discretion to grant him bail.
“I’ve considered the submissions and the evidence in support of the application and I’m satisfied that the applicant has not established any exceptional circumstance,”Tamate said.
“However in the exercise of my discretion, I have considered his background that he has been professionally teaching for the last 35 years and will grant bail in the sum of K2,000.
It was alleged that on Sept 5 between 3am and 3pm, the teacher was seen with three others at 8-Mile settlement, Port Moresby, at an area where people played cards.
It was alleged that the deceased was also seen at that area drinking and playing cards with his friends.
The deceased’s wife took him home from the card place at 3pm that day.
The next day the deceased allegedly went to the card place and drank beer with the teacher.
It was alleged that the deceased went and the teacher went to buy beer at 9-Mile, using the teacher’s vehicle where four other men went with them to 14-Mile to drink beer.
It was alleged that on their way back, taking the 8-Mile back-road, was where they killed the deceased and disposed of his body.