Cutmore’s appeal set for April 25

By BEVERLY PETER
SUPREME Court has given more time to the lawyer representing an Australian pilot jailed 18 years for trying to transport 611-kilogramme of cocaine from Papua New Guinea to Australia three years ago to inspect the appeal book which they will be relying on to making their appeal.
This was because lawyer Nathan Hukula informed that court that he was yet to review the appeal book containing the court records of John David Cutmore’s case, including the decisions which he would use.
This document is usually prepared by the National and Supreme Court registry when a convict wants to appeal his or her conviction and sentence.
Justice David Cannings, presiding as a single judge at Waigani on Friday, noted that Cutmore, 57, was still admitted in hospital and adjourned his appeal to April 25 for hearing.
Cutmore had applied for leave to review his sentence and was granted leave earlier.
He was initially charged with various criminal charges for entering the country illegally and dealing with criminal property which he pleaded guilty to and was dealt with.
His appeal now was in relation to his 18 years’ jail on the charge of money laundering by receiving criminal property (611kg of cocaine).
It was before the court that Cutmore on July 26, 2020, flew a small plane from Cairns and landed at a makeshift airstrip near Lealea village about 12-kilometres west of Port Moresby to transport the 611kg of cocaine, worth about K200 million, to Australia.
The plane crashed as it was about to take off after loading the cocaine.
Informants contacted police and the drug runners were apprehended and taken into custody and an investigation was done on the case.
Cutmore pleaded guilty to the offence on Aug 1, 2022.
Judge Teresa Berrigan presiding in the National Court on Oct 29, 2022, sentenced Cutmore to 18 years, saying that this must serve as a strong warning to potential offenders that such offence would not be tolerated.
She said this may be the first of its kind on facts but it was unlikely to be the last.
Supreme Court is expected to hear Cutmore’s appeal against his sentence as he claimed that 18 years was too much for him due to his medical conditions among other reasons.