Courts wind down for festive season

By JOSEPH BADE
THE National and Supreme Courts in Port Moresby and provincial headquarters are winding down for the Christmas-New Year break.
It is a time when judges, court officials, staff, lawyers and prosecutors usually take their holidays.
Most cases now in court will be adjourned until February next year when court is expected to resume.
This year, court ends on Dec 14 and resumes in February 2013.
Meanwhile, Justice Les Gavara-Nanu adjourned the election petition of Patrick Basau against MP for Kabwum Bob Dadae to today for a status conference.
Justine Tolopau, from Harvey NII lawyers, appeared for the Electoral Commission.
In the National Court in Port Moresby yesterday, Justice  Gavara-Nanu told Tolopau to inform all parties, including their lawyers, to appear today.
“I want all counsels with their clients to be present on Friday. I want to know on Friday how many witnesses are to be called, the length of the trial and what would be the convenient time to set this matter down for trial – is it February or January next year, I want to hear from counsels,” the judge said.