Trial of MV Taimareho’s captain starts
TRIAL of the Master/Captain of MV Taimareho 1, who was charged with multiple counts of manslaughter after 27 people were swept overboard the vessel in 2020 has started in the High Court on Wednesday.
The defendant Michael Roy Galo is facing trial for 27 counts of manslaughter before Judge Ronald Bei Talasasa Jnr.
The hearing continues on Thursday.
Galo is facing charges in relation to a sea tragedy that occurred in the early hours of 3 April 2020 between Guadalcanal and Malaita.
The prosecution alleged that Galo who was said to be the shipmaster at that time set out the ship despite the bad weather.
In March 2020, the Government came up with a repatriation plan amid fears of the COVID-19 community transmission and it saw a huge number of people in Honiara leave for the provinces.
On the night of 2 April 2020, MV Taimareho 1 left Honiara with 738 passengers in spite of warnings from the Maritime advising vessels not to travel to provinces due to Cyclone Harold.
On its voyage to Are-are in Malaita, huge waves struck the ship during the night and swept 27 people overboard.
The ship continued on its voyage and arrived at Su’u Harbor on the morning of 3 April 2020.
A head count was conducted and 27 passengers were found missing.
They were mostly high school students.
Only six bodies were recovered.
Public Solicitor George Gray represents Galo, whilst Public Prosecutor Steward Tonowane is prosecuting.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
Date yet to be set for hearing of Sogavare petition strike out application
THE High Court is yet set a date to hear the application to strike out the petition case filed against former Prime Minister and current Minister of Finance and Treasury, Manasseh Sogavare.
This petition case was supposed to go before Judge Augustine Aulanga on Tuesday afternoon to determine whether to set a date to hear the strikeout application or to set directions for MP Sogavare to file his defence.
However, Judge Aulanga did not mention the case on Tuesday as he returned the file to the Registrar of the High Court to be reallocated to another judge.
Ms Jillian Soaika of Rano & Company, who represents MP Sogavare, said until the file is allocated to a new judge, counsels for both parties will need to keep an eye for the new listing date.
An unsuccessful bidder for for the East Choiseul Constituency Seat in the April 17 National General Election (NGE) filed the petition on 29 May.
The petition contains six allegations of Election Bribery.
Ms Soaika explained that five of the allegations are claimed to have been committed by MP Sogavare, through his purported agents, while one is alleged to have been committed by the MP himself.
She added that their legal firm on behalf of MP Sogavare filed an application to strike out the petition on 29 July.
Ms Soaika said this was on the basis that the petition is frivolous and vexatious and that the alleged grounds are insufficient to amount to election bribery.
She said on 27 August, they filed an amended application to strike out the petition, citing non-compliance with court orders as an additional ground for the striking out since the court’s directions were not complied with by the petitioner.
The L & L Lawyers is representing Qurusu.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara.
