Pala slams attack on lawyer

 ATTORNEY General Ano Pala has condemned the physical attack on lawyer McRonald Nale at the Waigani Court house on Monday. 

“The assault on the lawyer is a criminal act and I call on the police to immediately proceed to arrest and charge the perpetrators of the crime,” Pala said in a media statement yesterday. 

“It is critically important for our judicial system that lawyers as advocates of their clients should be free to their work based on the instructions from their clients with fear or favour.” 

Pala’s comments follow the remarks by Justice Sir Bernard Sakora on Wednesday who said people should respect the court, and its officers, which include lawyers. 

Sir Bernard said a verbal or physical attack on a lawyer appearing before his court was serious because it concerned their safety and well being. 

He said the car park at the Waigani Court House seemed to be where lawyers and parties litigated outside of court and which sometimes led to physical confrontation. 

The incident occurred on Monday after Nale came out from court after the court case was adjourned. 

The case involved a compensation claim by Robert Kopaol represented by lawyer Philip Waraniki, for the death of his son in a road accident. 

Nale is representing the driver John Nahare. 

The matter returns to court on March 4.