Judge lectures lawyer on late arrival for hearing

 By JAMES APA GUMUNO

A JUDGE has told a lawyer representing a petitioner that the court will not wait for him after he arrived late.

Justice Allan David reminded lawyer Tony Yamarhai, who was representing petitioner Jamie Maxtone-Graham at the Mt Hagen National Court, that he should be in court before the case started.

Yamarhai arrived 10 minutes late for the trial on the first ground of the election petition about the appointment of the provincial returning officer for Jiwaka.

The other two grounds on the election petition on errors and omission and illegal practices during the counting were dismissed during the competency hearing at Minj National Court two months ago.

Yamarhai entered the courtroom after Electoral Commission’s lawyer Ray William had asked the court to dismiss the case. 

Governor William Tongamp’s lawyer Michael Kumai supported the application to have the case dismissed.

David told Yamarhai that there should not be any reason for his lateness.

“The court will not wait for you. You have a duty and responsibility to your client and must be in the courtroom before the court starts,” he said.

He said the court had the powers to dismiss the case because of his late arrival. 

He said the lawyer was lucky because Kumai was still making his application to dismiss the case when he walked in.

Williams submitted to have the proceeding dismissed for want of prosecution.

He told the court that it was a very serious matter and the lawyer (Yamarhai) should have been present in court before the case started.

Yamarhai blamed his late arrival to a traffic jam along the way. 

He said he was picked up at 9.20am, 10 minutes before the court was to start at the Nu Waka Lodge.

David ruled that the case should proceed.