Court to set trial date for Wau’s case

DEFENCE Minister Guma Wau will know by early next month when he will be go on trial in the National Court on an attempted murder charge.
A National Court sitting in Kundiawa on Wednesday ruled that an April date for trial be set for Wau and co-accused Neng Peter Tei.
They are charged with three counts of attempted murder and intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Acting Judge Justice Martin Ipang threw out an application by lawyer Gabriel Gendua to quash the charges.
Ipang ordered that a trial must proceed as Gendua’s application only centred around the question of admissibility of evidence.
Gendua then asked for adjournment as Wau was attending parliament.
Justice Ipang adjourned the matter to April for a proper trial date to be set and extended bail for both accused.
Wau the MP for Kerowagi, had appeared the Kundiawa Committal Court for the attempted murder of John Augando in June 2010, and was committed to stand trial in the National Court.
Wau is alleged to have fired shots at Augando after claiming an illegal roadblock was set up at Urinigle village, on the Highlands Highway.
Wau claimed he had been carrying a substantial amount of money belonging to the people of Kerowagi and fired shots to disperse those who blocked the road to protect the money and family members in his vehicle.
Aguando sustained gunshot wounds to his right thigh and was rushed to Kundiawa General Hospital where he went through difficult surgical operations.