Man accused of causing bodily harm walks free

THE Waigani National Court has freed a Hela man charged with assault causing bodily harm to his cousin due to lack of evidence, including a medical report.
Acting judge Justice Laura Kuvi found John Liu not guilty and discharged his charge, saying: “The State has failed to provide evidence, including medical reports of injury caused by Lui to Libe Denis, who is also from Hela.” Justice Kuvi found Denis the aggressor.
Liu allegedly punched Denis which resulted in him losing two front teeth during an argument at the Waigani Committal Court on Oct 30, last year.
The court learnt that Liu and Denis were sons of two brothers.
The fight arose when they both were at the committal court to solve a family dispute in which Liu’s elder brother was accused of being involved in a fraud of an estate.
Acting Justice Kuvi said: “The accused claimed that he was questioned why he was there by Liu and he replied saying he could be anywhere he wanted.
“As Lui went closer, he punched him twice in his face.
“The defence of Liu was fairly raised on evidence and the version of his story obtained after the day of the offence was committed.
“I have viewed Liu’s pre-record interview recorded a day after the incident and his version of the story was consistence and more logic with common-sense.
“Having accepted the accused version, I found the complainer was the aggressor in which he grabbed Liu by the collar and spun him around.
“Liu, in his self-defence, threw a punch at Denis to break free from him.
“His action of punching the complainant once on the mouth was not intention to cause bodily harm.
“The accused is discharged from the charges and found not guilty.”