Court strikes out wilful murder case

A Committal Court in Lae yesterday struck out a wilful murder case against a man due to insufficient evidence provided by police.
The man, Japhet Nick, 28, from Nawaeb’s Kistuan village in Morobe, was charged with the murder of a boy, six or seven years old, on Oct 13, 2023.
Senior Magistrate Pious Tapil said: “There is no proof before the court to show that a person has died and from what cause.
“The court only has photographs and these photographs may mean anything. There is also no medical report in court.”
The court ordered on April 15 for witness Sylvia Joe to be presented in court yesterday to verify her statement made earlier, but the witness was not present.
“Such case needs police to provide corroborative evidence. I therefore find that there are lots of gaps where essential evidences need to be provided to substantiate the elements of the charge are not there,” Magistrate Tapil said.
Magistrate Tapil said for such case to be committed to the National Court, all elements of the charge must be present.