Submissions vital for rulings: Kupo

By JIMMY KALEBE
SUBMISSIONS by those accused in court are crucial in making rulings and sentencing, Lae district court magistrate Edward Kupo said last Friday.
“Submissions are part of the procedures for the court to determine whether a defendant is guilty or not,” he said.
“Submissions can be written in any format, not necessarily in the court format because not many detainees or defendants know how to write them correctly.
“But this is their right to defend their case.
“When it is written and submitted to court, it helps to speed up the court processes as well as making a ruling.
“The court will always refer to submissions before coming up with a decision.
“They (the accused) are innocent until proven guilty.”
Kupo made the remarks after some Buimo Jail remandees in Lae, Morobe, made submissions that he accepted despite their failure to adhere to court format.
He also lamented that the population boom was contributing to the rise in crime.
“Parents are not raising and guiding their children properly. There seems to be no control, resulting in unacceptable behaviour,” he said.
“Those young people who are now in my court are now facing many (socio-economic) problems.”