Two file lawsuit against State

TWO former students of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) who sustained gunshot wounds in a police shoot-out during the 2016 student unrest have filed a lawsuit against the State.
The pair, Steven Likas and Madmax Rex, filed the case with the human rights court at the Waigani National Court to sue the State for the actions of the police which resulted in the injuring many students.
They have named the identified police officer who discharged his firearm, Jacob Terema, as the first defendant, former National Capital District Met Supt Ben Turi as the second defendant, Police Commissioner David Manning as the third defendant and the State as the fourth defendant.
Justice David Cannings last week adjourned the matter to today for the pair to present to court their notice of motion where they would ask the court to make a default judgment over the case based on whatever evidence they have to identify guilt or liability of the case.
This was because State had failed to file its notice of intention to defend the case.
According to their lawyer Laken Lepatu Aigilo of Gibson Bon lawyers, they will move an application of assessment of damages once the court has delivered the default judgment in their favour.