Court team visits murder scene

SUBMISSIONS in the murder trial involving Madang businesswoman Catherine Mal, her son and two nephews will begin today in court.
Yesterday afternoon, National Court Judge David Cannings,  police officers, defence and state lawyers  and family members of the accused, visited the crime scene to see for themselves the place where the events unfolded on Feb 28, 2009.
They visited 4-Mile market, then proceeded on foot to Yagaum junction where the alleged fight broke out, resulting in the death of a Daga Nanas.
At the junction, Judge Cannings stood at the spot where the fight took place, eyeing the distances between the road and the small market house where one of the accused allegedly took shelter from rocks thrown allegedly by Kelly Sakel and his gang.
It was also there that the deceased allegedly had his tongue cut off.
In his memory, a small pile of stones and a plant have been placed at the spot.
The banana patch where a female state witness hid behind and said she saw the accused including Catherine and her green vehicle pull up to smash two vehicles belonging to the deceased was also pointed out.
The home of the deceased and the two smashed vehicles could be seen still parked on the same spot almost three years later. The flooring of the abandoned house of the deceased was still standing.
A visit to the Mal residence showed the green ford vehicle (LAW 664) partly covered in a blue canvas and parked beside the family residence.