Man to face trial for causing road crash that killed Sam Basil

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Man to face trial for causing road crash that killed Sam Basil

PORT MORESBY: A man will stand trial in the National Court for causing an accident that killed former deputy prime minister Sam Basil and his bodyguard, and injured seven others.

Magistrate Pious tapil told Matthew Barnabas, 37, that there was enough evidence to prove that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the the accident along the Bulolo Highway in Morobe on May 11, 2022.

The National reported the court proceedings:

Facing trial over Basil’s death

November 15, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By JIMMY KALEBE
A MAN will stand trial in the National Court for causing an accident that killed former deputy prime minister Sam Basil and his bodyguard, and injured seven others.
Magistrate Pious Tapil told Matthew Barnabas, 37, that there was enough evidence to prove that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident along the Bulolo Highway in Morobe on May 11.
Magistrate Tapil told Barnabas, from Simbai’s Amar village in Madang, that the court had given enough time to his lawyer to make a submission on the sufficiency of evidence.
“Unfortunately, your lawyer has never had the submission ready despite being asked to do so. The court will go ahead with the ruling,” he said.
Magistrate Tapil told Barnabas that he had a case to answer in the National Court.
“Based on the evidence before the court, it is clear that the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident was you, and the court finds that you were under the influence of alcohol when causing the accident on May 11 at Samsam village along the Lae- Bulolo Highway.”
The accident resulted in the death of Basil and his close protection officer Const Neil Maino.
Seven others were injured.
Police allege that on May 11 between 8pm and 9pm at Samsam village along the Lae-Bulolo Highway, Barnabas was travelling towards Bulolo while Basil’s vehicle was travelling in the opposite direction.
Police told the court that Barnabas drove towards Basil’s vehicle and hit it on the driver’s side.
Basil, Maino and others were taken to the Bulolo hospital.
Barnabas will appear in the National Court for mention on Nov 28.

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