Now Bhosip Kaiwi wants media coverage censored
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Now Bhosip Kaiwi wants
media coverage censored
PORT MORESBY: After the state’s ridiculous bid to ban
media coverage of the Bhosip Kaiwi’s murder hearing on Tuesday (June 28, 2022),
the defence lawyer requested to censor the media yesterday (Thursday June 30,
2022).
However, Judge Laura
Wawun-Kuvi, again turned down the request (aimed at controlling the press),
asking lawyer Emmanuel Ellison to make a proper application to support her
request.
Judge Laura then
adjourned hearing to July 25, 2022.
The state has lined up
36 witnesses to testify against Kaiwi who allegedly toutured his wife, Jenelyn
Kennedy to death from June 18 to 22, 2020.
Only babysitter Rachel
Ipang has testified in two hearings to date.
The National reported the court proceedings:
Court asked to censor
reporting
July 1, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
BHOSIP Kaiwi’s lawyer Emmanuel Ellison has
asked the National Court to give certain directions to the media on court
reporting.
Elison made the submission before acting Judge Laura Wawun-Kuvi at Waigani
yesterday following the State’s oral application on Tuesday to bar the media
from reporting Kaiwi’s murder trial.
Elison said the media had been reporting the witness statements in court
word-for-word which could affect the State’s case and influence other
witnesses’ statements.
“We have noted that the papers (newspaper) have reproduced the witness
statements in court under oath word-for-word in their publication,” he said.
“While we understand that the public has the right to know, the court has to
give certain directions as to how or what the media should be restricted to
report and not word-for-word.
“The rule of evidence is that when trial is heard, other witnesses should not
have access to what one witness is saying.
“When word-for-word evidence is published, other witnesses will have access to
it by reading and this may affect the State’s case,” Elison said.
Judge Wawun-Kuvi told Ellison to conduct his own research and file a proper
application. “I will give you time to research that aspect of your submission,
for now there is no evidence that is being called and you provide the relevant
affidavit,” she said.
“For now, it is from the bar table that you are indicating to the court that
there is a repetition of evidence, word-for-word, and that is not proper before
the court.
“I will grant the adjournment and you prepare the relevant application as to
your concern, how it affects your client.
I will hear that application as a separate issue prior to hearing the
application on admissibility.
“So we don’t confuse what is happening.
“I will also allow counsels to research properly and provide written
submissions to support in relation to the issue of propensity or what is called
similar facts evidence that is admissible for the court to determine because
the court is not in actual trial, but trial within a trial at this stage.
“The substantive trial is pending the issue of admissibility of evidence that
the State seeks to call.”
The court also noted that another issue was whether or not State could call a
witness who did not initially give a statement or an affidavit in the committal
court and there had been no service of affidavit after the committal.
Judge Wawun-Kuvi adjourned the matter to July 25. Kaiwi is again remanded in
Bomana prison.
He was alleged to have assaulted his wife Jenelyn Kennedy, for five days, from
June 18, 2020 to June 22, 2020, in their home at Korobosea, Port Moresby. On
June 22, Kaiwi and Jenelyn drove out of their house and allegedly brought a
nurse home to treat Jenelyn.
On June 23, Jenelyn was rushed to the emergency ward at the Port Moresby
General Hospital but died as a result of internal injuries sustained from the
alleged assaults.
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