Five accused of murder challenge sufficiency of evidence

FOUR men and a woman accused of the murder of a man in July, have filed a no-case submission through their lawyer to challenge the sufficiency of evidence in the case.
The defence counsel representing the five provided his practising certificate (in his phone) to the police prosecutor and the magistrate before proceeding.
Appearing before Lae Committal Court Magistrate Tera Dawai last week were defendants Bill Matul, 51, Tommy Matul, 20, Eliab Korima, 31, Noah Henry, 25, and Kylie Moduwa, 30.
The five are all from Tewai-Siassi in Morobe.
All, according to police reports, are related.
They were appearing from the National Court bail after being charged with the murder of Charles Palei last July 17. Magistrate Dawai told the defence lawyer to submit a no-case submission after the lawyer informed the court that he was ready to make a verbal submission in court.
The court asked for a proper written submission after police prosecution requested for it so that it could respond properly.
Magistrate Dawai adjourned the case to Friday for submission on evidence.
Police reports allege that on July 17, between 5pm and 5.30pm, the four accused men were at Lae Top Town waiting to pick up their sister, Moduwa (a defendant in the case), who worked there.
It was alleged that she called her brothers to pick her up from work after noticing her husband, Palei, at the main entrance of her work place.
Police alleged that while waiting, a fight broke out between the other four defendants and Palei.
The four allegedly assaulted Palei with several punches and he fell on the footpath.
The victim was taken to the hospital sometime later.
He died at the accidents and emergency unit at the Angau Memorial Hospital.
The five were arrested and charged by police.