Yakasa not happy with court ruling

THE police top brass is unhappy with the acquittal of former police officer Tom Mou who had been charged with murder.
Acting Deputy Police Commissioner and chief of operations, Fred Yakasa said: “The police management is dissatisfied with the outcome of the court case against former police officer Tom Mou, who was last week cleared of the murder charge by the National Court.”
The National Court ruled that it was satisfied the offence was committed in self-defence.
The incident happened on the early hours of Dec 8, 2007. Mou and a female companion were leaving a nightclub when three youths held them up and snatched the female’s handbag.
Mou retaliated and shot one of the youths, killing him. 
The court said it was satisfied the offence was committed and that with evidence produced, it was satisfied that Mou reacted in self-defence.
But in statement yesterday, Yakasa said: “It is unfortunate that the outcome of this case, which was reported by the media, may emit wrong signals that police prosecutors have not taken carriage of this matter to the fullest, resulting in the accused being acquitted”.
Yakasa said he intended to consult the Office of the Public Prosecutor in a bid to appeal the National Court decision.
He said investigators would consult the office of the public prosecutor to view the case again, particularly the judgment and, if possible, “find alternative means within the judgment for either an appeal or review of the decision by a higher court”.
 “In so far as the administrative matters are concerned, the judgment does not impact on the decision of the commissioner to dismiss the officer and that he remains terminated.”
In a commentary made via e-mail on Yakasa’s statement, Peter Yakopa, the assistant coordinator of frontline policing improvement project based at police headquarters at Konedobu, said: “Should our police prosecutors blame the state prosecutors or themselves?
“Our police prosecutors fail to do the checklist and do a good post-mortem on the files at the committal courts before committing the offenders to the National Court.
“What a waste of time and tear and wear of brains and energy on a case that is always thrown out by the National Court.
“Could our legal offi­cers do some brain storm­-
ing in assisting the Deputy Commissioner Operations in taking the matter to the public prosecutor’s office?” Yakopa said.