Top court joins two O’Neill appeals

By DAPHNE WANI
THE Supreme Court joined two appeals yesterday in relation to the arrest warrant of Prime Minster Peter O’Neill.
Justice Stephen Kassman also issued an order to list the appeal before fast-tracking matters of the Supreme Court.
The consolidated appeals will now name O’Neill as the first appellant, Police Commissioner Gari Baki as the second appellant while Chief Magistrate Nerrie Eliakim will be the first respondent, with former police commissioner Geoffrey Vaki and the State as respondents in the proceedings.
The court heard that O’Neill filed an appeal in the Supreme Court on Aug 9 and obtained a stay order on his arrest warrant on Aug 10.
The court also heard that on Aug 11, Baki  filed an appeal to stay the arrest warrant of the prime minister.
The court heard that both appeals were similar in nature and also had the same grounds of appeal.
The parties will return today for further directions, and  contempt proceedings filed by Twivey Lawyers against five Opposition MPs —  Belden Namah, Brian Kramer, Patrick Pruaitch, Kerenga Kua and Sir Mekere Morauta.
Lawyer Desmond Kipa, from Twivey Lawyers, told the court that all parties were served with the contempt application.
He further informed the court that his office had already received notice of appearance from lawyers representing Kua and Sir Mekere.
The contempt proceedings were related to a discussion of the substantive appeal by the respondents in the media .