District court adjourns Rabaul Queen case

 THE Kokopo District Court has adjourned the case against Rabaul Shipping operator Captain Peter Sharp and others to Nov 14.

The case is in relation to the sinking of the mv Rabaul Queen on Feb 2 last year, resulting in the death of more than 200 people.

Sharp, Captain Anthony Tsiau, chief mate Michael Zirau and Kimbe branch port manager Grace Amen were served their case files by the police on Wednesday. They appeared for mention at the district court yesterday with their lawyers.

It was, however, adjourned because of the unavailability of a magistrate to hear the case.

This week police served witness statements from survivors of the sinking to the five suspects in Rabaul and on National Maritime Safety Authority Kimbe manager, Michael Benjamin Livinai, in Kimbe, and NMSA Madang manager, Carl Kamau, in Madang. 

Livinai will appear for mention at the Kimbe District Court today. Kamau will appear for mention at the Madang District Court on Nov 28.

Sharp, 69, is facing 162 counts of manslaughter and for sending an unseaworthy vessel out to sea.

Tsiau, 54, from Nissan Island, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, and Zirau, 47, from Manam Island, in Madang, were both charged with 162 manslaughter charges and for taking an unseaworthy vessel out to sea.

Amen from Duke of York, Livinai from Misima, Kabiu from Rabaul, and Kamau from Turubu, are facing 162 manslaughter charges.