Court warns against meddling

By AILEEN KWARAGU
A COURT has warned complainants of a domestic violence case to refrain from interfering with police investigations as it would paint a poor picture of the community.
Central Committal Court Magistrate Laura Kuvi made the statement after lawyer Bosky Koke, of the Public Solicitor’s Office, asked the court to drop the case against Tala Temai, charged with causing grievous bodily harm to his wife.
Magistrate Kuvi told the court yesterday that it had become a norm in PNG societies to treat domestic violence as a normal case.
“Everybody has been going about domestic violence and how it is systemic in our community,” she said.
“Settling matters out of court for domestic violence cases sends the wrong message to our community.
“It says that offenders can pay their way out of trouble.”
Magistrate Kuvi said once the complainant or the wife of the accused laid the complaint at the police station, it became State business.
She warned the defendant to be careful that his actions to interfere with the complainant might affect his bail conditions.
“Non-interference means that the witnesses are unlikely to show up at the trial of this matter” Magistrate Kuvi said.
It was alleged that last Jan 4, at the Goldie river training depot, Temai, of Oledale in Gumini, Chimbu, had an affair with another woman and charged at the complainant named Margareth Paul by throwing a hammer aimed at her face, causing injuries to the face.
He then lifted an iron shovel twice and allegedly launched it on Paul’s head and later on her lower arm. She was later rescued and taken to an aid post in the area.
Temai’s matter returns to court on Nov 17 for defence submissions.