Man charged with attempted murder escapes from courthouse

A MAN, 33, charged with attempted murder who escaped from custody, sneaked out of a court room and escaped again from the Waigani District Court House yesterday.
Joe Joseph, from Surinki in Enga ,last escaped from the Hohola police cell on Jan 11 during a police interview after he was taken from Bomana prison.
Joseph was recaptured after five days at 4-Mile in Port Moresby.
Prosecutor Chief Sergeant Konio Polon said after the incident that there was no court orderly guards in the court room.
Police alleged that on Nov 14, last year between 3am and 4am at Burns Peak Settlement, Joseph was drunk, smashed a beer bottle and stabbed a man, Ale Gas, twice on the belly and twice on the ribs.
It was alleged that Gas’ intestine popped out and he was rushed to the Port Moresby General Hospital and treated under life support.
Police alleged that the incident happened when Joseph and Gas were drunk.
Joseph’s lawyer appealed to strike out the charge, disputing the defendant had escaped from custody.
The lawyer claimed that the prosecution and investigating officers did not present files. The lawyer’s submission was rejected.
However, Joseph pretended to talk to his lawyer and walked out of the room. The court ordered a second warrant of arrest.