No justice for 5-year-old girl killed in road accident?
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No justice for 5-year-old girl killed in road accident?
PORT MORESBY: A five-year-old girl was allegedly knocked down and killed by a drunk car driver here on Aug 12 last year.
On Tuesday (May 7, 2019), the driver was discharged by the Waigani Committal Court - all because police investigations were poor and lacking in evidence.
How would you feel if that little girl was your daughter?
Read on for the details of the court case as published by The National:
Father cries foul after court frees suspect
By DILU WENATHE father of a five-year-old girl, who was allegedly killed by a drunk driver, is crying foul after the accused was freed by the Waigani Committal Court yesterday.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar dismissed the case and freed Lionel Massin, 25, from East Sepik, due to poor police investigations and lack of evidence.
Bidar said the standard of investigation was poor and the charge was flawed with the police brief failing to mention that the child had died.
Massin was charged “with fatal injuries and failed to give his name”.
The girl’s father Felix Nol, from Hela, told The National that the case was struck out but it did not mean it would end there.
“I will still pursue the matter and I want justice to prevail. I will only be satisfied with Masin facing the full brunt of the law,” he said. “It was in 2018, one Sunday morning, when my little girl was knocked down by a car. She’s not an animal. I will not forget it. By-standers wanted to kill Massin but I stopped them because I wanted justice.
“The police investigation is very shallow. I reported many times to the metropolitan superintendent. I will go back and appeal and lodge another complaint and I want to see justice.”
On Aug 12 last year at about 7am, Massin was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and drove a car from Manu to Taurama Barracks.
Along the way at Dove Funeral Home, Massin allegedly ran off the road and hit the girl and her mother who were on their way to church.
Massin and two passengers in the car were apprehended by bystanders but when traffic police arrived, he allegedly denied driving the car.
Magistrate Bidar said the feature of the statement that the investigating officer obtained did not comply with the District Court Act.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar dismissed the case and freed Lionel Massin, 25, from East Sepik, due to poor police investigations and lack of evidence.
Bidar said the standard of investigation was poor and the charge was flawed with the police brief failing to mention that the child had died.
Massin was charged “with fatal injuries and failed to give his name”.
The girl’s father Felix Nol, from Hela, told The National that the case was struck out but it did not mean it would end there.
“I will still pursue the matter and I want justice to prevail. I will only be satisfied with Masin facing the full brunt of the law,” he said. “It was in 2018, one Sunday morning, when my little girl was knocked down by a car. She’s not an animal. I will not forget it. By-standers wanted to kill Massin but I stopped them because I wanted justice.
“The police investigation is very shallow. I reported many times to the metropolitan superintendent. I will go back and appeal and lodge another complaint and I want to see justice.”
On Aug 12 last year at about 7am, Massin was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and drove a car from Manu to Taurama Barracks.
Along the way at Dove Funeral Home, Massin allegedly ran off the road and hit the girl and her mother who were on their way to church.
Massin and two passengers in the car were apprehended by bystanders but when traffic police arrived, he allegedly denied driving the car.
Magistrate Bidar said the feature of the statement that the investigating officer obtained did not comply with the District Court Act.
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