Former officer accused of killing Kapris seeking dismissal of charges

A former police officer charged with the murder of notorious bank robbers William Nanua Kapris and Raphael Walimini in 2013 has filed an application seeking to dismiss his charges for non-compliance of the Coroner’s Act.
Phillip Pokop, from Bowat village in Lorengau, Manus, filed an application on March 26 to seek the court’s interpretation of the procedures under section 21 of the Coroner’s Act and the Police Act. Section 21 sets out the procedure for re-opening inquests.
Pokop claimed in his application that procedures were not followed leading up to his arrest.
Pokop’s case was mentioned in the Waigani Committal Court last week when it was advised of the application.
Police prosecutor George Vetari told the court that he was just served the application and needed time to prepare a response.
The application was made pursuant to section 20 of the District Courts Act to dismiss the information charging the defendant for non-compliance of section 21 of the Corona’s Act.
Pokop is seeking from court a declaration that two pieces of information that led to his charge of murder of Kapris and Walimini be dismissed in entirety for want of compliance in section 21 of the Coroner’s Act and section 20 of the Police Act.
He is also seeking to have the case against him dismissed. Magistrate Bruno Saiho adjourned the application hearing to April 17 for police to complete probe.