IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
(Criminal Jurisdiction)

Criminal Case No. 08 of 2009

PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

VS.

HAMILSON TABISINI

Mr Justice Oliver A. Saksak
Mrs Anita Vinabit – Clerk

Mr Gregory Takau for Public Prosecutor
Mr Christopher Tavoa for the Accused

Dates of Hearing: 22nd and 23rd September 2009
Date of Oral Verdict: 23rd September 2009
Date of Reasons: 29th September 2009

REASONS FOR ORAL VERDICT

INTRODUCTION

1.	This judgment provides reasons for the oral decision (which has now been published) handed down by the Court at Bwatnapni, Central Pentecost on Wednesday 23rd September 2009.

CHARGE

2.	The accused was charged under Section 107(d) of the Penal Code Act Cap 135 (the Act) with Intentional Assault. It reads –

"No person shall commit intentional assault on the body of another person.
Penalty:

(a)	……………..;

(b)	…………….;

(c)	…………….;

(d)	If the damage caused results in death, although the offender did not intend to cause such death, imprisonment for 10 years."

BRIEF HISTORY OF CASE

3.	He pleaded Not-Guilty to the charge on 3rd February 2009. He was held under a warrant of remand in custody in Port Vila until 13th March 2009 when he requested bail and by consent bail was granted on conditions. There were no previous complaints about any breaches of the bail conditions.

4.	When the case was called for trial, the Court read and explained in Bislama the contents of Section 81 of the Criminal Procedure Code Act [Cap. 136] (the CPC Act). It was an open public trial held under the shades of two big trees in the middle of Bwatnapni Village, Central Pentecost.

BURDEN AND STANDARD OF PROOF

5.	The Prosecution had the onus of proof under Sections 8 and 9 of the Act [Cap.135]. The requirement under those Sections are to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt and similarly to disprove any plea of self-defence raised by the defence beyond reasonable doubt.

DEFENCE OF SELF-DEFENCE

6.	The Accused raised the defence of self-defence under Section 23 of the Act on 3rd February 2009 when he entered a Not-Guilty plea. He maintained that position throughout the course of the trial.

EVIDENCE-IN-CHIEF BY PROSECUTION WITNESSES

7.	The prosecution produced evidence from 4 witnesses namely Chief Thompson Bule, Brian Bule, Nickson Bule and Benny Tabi to prove 3 elements of the offence namely:

(i)	That the accused assaulted the deceased Edgel Bule with a knife;

(ii)	That the accused had the intention to assault the deceased; and

(iii)	That as a result of the assault, the deceased died.

8.	Evidence-in-chief of each witnesses for the Prosecution are set out below in Bislama –

(1) Chief Thompson Bule

"Mi Thompson Bule, mi stap long Enkul area. Mi wan jif, mi wok wetem pipol. Incident I happen long 6 Okis 2008. Mi talemaot wanem we mi luk long eye blong mi I hapen long nasara mo haos blong mi. Long morning taem ol aksen I tekem ples, Ham I kam tru long haos blong mi wetem wan knife we hemi sharpenem finis. Ino long taem 4 fala boy oli kam. Taem oli kam inside igat 3 fala boy i sakem aot knife blong olgeta aotside. Igat Nickson, Brian mo Benny. Afta Brian I holem axe blong mi long graon mo stonem Ham wetem axe be hemi mestem. Afta oli jam inside be Edgel (deceased) I holem knife mo wood guava. Edgel hemi only boy we I holem knife mo guava long hand blong hem. 3 fala boy ia taem oli go inside, oli ronem Ham. Edgel I traem kilimaot knife long hand blong Ham wetem guava be semtaem Ham I katem hand blong hem wetem knife. Edgel I stil holem knife long left hand blong hem mo katem Ham wetem. Hemi katem Ham long head mo hand blong hem. Naoia oli sek se Edgel igat wan bigfala kil so oli pulum olgeta igo aotside mo mi nomo luk wanem oli mekem aotside."

 (2) Brian Bule

"Mi Brian Bule blong East Pentecost, mi wok long garen nomo. Long 6 Okis 2008 samples long morning, mi tu mi bin joenem 3 fala boy we mifala igo inside long haos blong Jif Thompson Bule. Taem mifala igo blong go inside, Ham istap rere finis wetem knife blong hem. Taem mi luk olsem ia, mi luk axe I stap, mi holem, mi stonem Ham, be mi mestem. Taem mi stonem Ham finis, mi go klosap long hem. Edgel tu ikam bihaen. Ham itraem blong katem mi, be I mestem. Edgel I stanap klosap long hem finis abaot 1 metre nomo away. Edgel I holem guava long raet hand mo knife long left hand blong traem kilimaot knife blong Ham. Taem Edgel I traem be Ham I sakem knife blong hem mo katem raet hand blong Edgel. Afta wood I foldaon, mi tekem guava mo kilimaot knife blong Ham I foldaon. Kitchen blong Jif Thompson I bigfala lelbet mo igat wan doar nomo. Wall hemi bamboo mo oli klosap rotten. Blong go inside, mi mi go feswan. Edgel I katem afta mi. Benny mo Nickson bihaen. Tufala I stap kam inside taem Ham I katem hand blong Edgel. Yes, Ham ia I stap long Kot today (points to Ham in the Dock)."

 (3) Benny Tabi

"Mi nem blong mi Benny blong Vanmel Area. Long 6 Okis 2008 taem problem I happen Jif Mathew I organisem taem blong meeting blong tokbaot adultery problem blong Ham. Taem Ham I bin kam lukaotem mifala fastaem, mifala I kam blong bae I gat kot long taem ia. Taem mifala I kam tugeta long haos blong Jif, Ham I kirap wetem knife. Mi stanap long door long taem ia long 4-5 metre away. Taem Ham I girap wetem knife, Brian I stonem hem wetem axe. Edgel I move igo inside wetem guava mo wantem kilimaot knife blong Ham, be knife blong Ham I pass long hand blong Edgel, wood I foldaon. Brian I tekem wood mo kilimaot knife blong Ham. Long taem ia, mi stanap yet long door wetem Nickson. Brian I stap inside long haos mo hemi no holem wan samting be long taem ia wood I foldaon long hand blong Edgel, hemi tes tekem mo hitimaot knife blong Ham. Afta Ham I katem hand blong Edgel finis, Edgel I usum left hand blong hem blong givim sam kil long body blong Ham."

 (4) Nickson Bule

"Mi Nickson Bule blong Central Pentecost. Long 6 Okis 2008, I bin gat wan faet mo Edgel I ded. Folem trabol blong Ham mekem se Ham I katem brata Edgel afta hemi ded. Yes, mi tu mi stap long taem ia. Taem mifala igo, evriwan mifala igo inside, mi last man. Mi luk Edgel i wantem kilimaot knife blong Ham. Hemi holem wan guava long raet hand mo knife long left hand side. Distance mi stap hemi abaot 7-8 metre away. Evriwan long olgeta I stap, Brian wetem Benny. Tufala ino holem wan samting. Brian nomo I luk wan axe mo hemi stonem Ham wetem. Taem Brian I stonem Ham, Edgel ino go inside yet. Taem hemi stonem Edgel finis igo inside, Edgel I folem hem igo. Taem Edgel I wantem kilimaot knife blong Ham, Ham too I sakem knife blonghem mo katem hand blong Edgel. Edgel istap usum left hand blong hem blong katem Ham wetem knife. Mifala evriwan istap inside long haos. Mifala I give way long Edgel taem hemi stap katem Ham long left hand blong hem. Guava hemi bigwan olsem leg blong table ia, hemi blong kilimaot knife blong Ham wetem. Afta Ham I katem Edgel finis, mifala I tekem Edgel igo long hospital."

EVIDENCE IN-CHIEF BY ACCUSED

9.	The Defendant gave the following comprehensive and extensive evidence in examination-in-chief –

"Nem blong mi Hamilson Tabisini, mi gat 26 yia, mi blong Enkul mo Vanmel areas. Long 6 Okis 2008 long morning mi livim home blong mi mi kam long haos blong Jif Thompson. Mi wetem Jif Matthew I stap long home blong mi wetem waef mo ol pikinini mo mama blong mi. Mi wokabaot igo long haos blong Jif Thompson, hemi tekem mi about 5 minit blong wokbaot. Taem mi stap go, mi no luk or mitim anybody long rod. Mi folem rod we igo stret long nakamal blong Jif Thompson. Haos blong hem I stap klosap nomo. Mi go long haos blong Jif Thompson folem decision blong olgeta Jifs long Tuesday (5 August) naet se bambae mifala I mekem "tamata" fom problem blong mi. Mi go blong askem Jif I kliarem long mi bakegen decisen we oli mekem. Yes, mi holem knife, hemi 66 cm long. Mi wan gardener, mi usum knife everyday blong wok long garen. Mi holem knife from wok blong mi long garen be folem fasin blong Pentecost, mi must wokbaot wetem knife long rod. Taem mi kasem haos blong Jif Thompson, igat fulap man mo woman insaed. I gat waef blong Jif Hamelton Mabon, gel blong hem Melany Mabon, Belinda Mabon narafala gel blong hem, mama blong gel we mi gat problem wetem, Marie Noelle, Adette Matan, Eric Bule mo Vansin Mabon wetem Jif Thompson. Evriwan ia oli stap long kitchen haos we faet I tekem ples long hem. Taem mi talem "gud morning" long olgeta, evriwan I givim bak "gud morning" long mi. Mi go inside finis ale ol family blong Bedina wetem Eric Bule oli go aotside wetem Marie Noelle, Eileen Matan, Liana Matan mo Eric Bule oli go aotside. Jif Thompson, Hamelton, Melany, Belinda, Adette mo Vansin olgeta istap inside. Taem mi go inside, olgeta I givim wan stool blong mi sidaon long hem long saed blong haos long medel.

Taem mi go sidaon, mi nomo wetem Jif Thompson I toktok. Mi askem hem wanem I happen long Tuesday 5 Okis taem oli sidaon mo decide se bae mifala I mekem tamata blong mi. Tamata I minim se "peace". Mi askem Jif folem ol aksen blong narafala party we oli destroyem property blong mi blong putum bak peace. Oli destroyem 30 hed kava blong 2 years old, 1 pig, haos blong mama blong mi mo ol famli blong mi oli stap sleep olbaot long bush wan naet mo 1 day. Oli stap wokbaot nomo kasem taem trabol I hapen. Olgeta boy ia nao, Brian, Nickson, Edgel mo Benny Tabi oli responsible blong ol damage ia long Tuesday 5 Okis.

Jif I bin storian long decisen blong olgeta mo talem long mi se bae mi wait blong ol Jif ia I kam tugeta long aftenun blong mekem tamata. Hemi storian long mi se olgeta I bin katem kava blong mi, oli kilim pig blong mi mo ronem ol famli blong mi then oli tekem pig ia igo long nakamal long Vanbok oli kakae mo oli drink wetem kava blong mi. Jif Matthew I toktok wetem olgeta abaot tamata, hemia nao oli kam. Jif I talem too se Nickson Bule I bin askem long hem se bifo tamata I tekem ples bambae oli mas kilim ded mi fastaem. Afta mi talem long Jif se "naoia long nakamal long Vanbok ol yangfala oli lidim ol Jif mo ol Jif inomo strong." Jif I talem se "yes, I true."

Taem mifala istap storian, waef blong Jif ino toktok. Hemi givim smol breadfruit blong mi kakae. Melany ino toktok. Evriwan istap havem breakfast. Belinda, Vansin mo Adette too ino toktok, evriwan I kakae. Mifala I kakae breadfruit wetem island cabbage. Afta we mi finisim breakfast blong mi, mi askem Jif blong go long toilet. Hemi letem mi mo taem mi kirap blong go from door, mi putum wan leg outside finis, eye blong mi I kasem ol boy we oli kam klosap haos finis. I gat Brian, Nickson, Edgel mo Benny.

Mi luk Edgel I holem knife long raet hand blong hem mo guava long left hand blong hem. Nickson Bule I holem knife long raet hand be ino gat samting long left hand. Brian I gat knife long raet hand mo wan bamboo long left hand blong hem. Benny ino holem wan samting. Taem mi luk olgeta, mi talem long Jif se "olgeta boy ia we yu stap talem olgeta hemia oli kam." Oli stap about 6-7 metre away.

Jif Thompson i talem long mi se "yu kambak sidaon long ples blong yu inside." Mo mi go bak sidaon. Mi bin fraet from se oli destroyem property blong mi finis mo sapos oli kam inside long haos, bae mi ded. Jif Thompson I remain long ples blong hem inside. Tae mol boy ia I kasem door, Jif hemi go mo talem long olgeta se bambae oli no mas mekem any samting mo from se hem nao I mekem toktok finis istap wetem Jif se bambae oli mekem tamata.

Yes, mi luk oli kam brake long door fastaem taem Jif I toktok. Taem oli stanap long door, eye blong olgeta I olsem hibiscus flawa we I red. Evriwan I holem knife. Oli kam long wan fasin we ino stret. Mi luk save se oli cross istap mo sei sapos oli kam inside, bae mi ded.

Ol boy ia oli kam long door. Brian I kam inside I pulum axe blong ofala Jif Thompson. Brian mo Nickson I askem Jif se "Jif yu pusum hem I kam aotside." Mi feel long taem ia oli no respektem haos blong Jif mo mi no hapi long hem. Long taem ia waef blong Jif mo ol narawan oli stap yet inside. Taem oli luk ol boy I blokem door, olgeta too oli seksek. Long taem ia nao Jif I luk se ol boy ino harem toktok blong hem be hemi sakem sem toktok bakeken. Brian ino stonem mi yet. Taem Jif I traem blokem olgeta, Brian I move igo long left saed mo Edgel I move igo long raet. Brian igo inside. Taem hemi bitim Jif, Brian I stonem mi wetem axe mo axe I fas long left saed blong mi. Mi feelim mi fraet, I soa bigwan. Knife we mi holem, mi stanap wetem, Brian ino toktok. Hemi ron I kam klosap long mi blong faetem mi. Nickson I blokem door blong haos. Edgel, Benny mo Brian evriwan I kam blong faetem mi. Woman blong Jif I brekem daon wall blong haos mo hem wetem ol pikinini oli ronwei.

Brian ino holem any samting. Edgel I holem guava long left hand mo knife long raet hand. Benny ino holem any samting. Nickson I holem wan longfala knife. Jif Thompson istap wetem mifala long haos. Igat sam toktok we olgeta oli sakem oli swear evriwan. Brian I talem "bastard" long mi. Edgel I talem "deepskin" long mi. Nickson, mi no harem save toktok blong hem. Mi tingbaot se mi mas laef mo mi mas protectem mi wetem laef blong mi.

Situation igo antap moa. Olgeta i strong face evriwan. Oli stap traem blong kilim mi nao. Mind blong mi i open se mi mas sevem laef blong mi. Edgel I swigim guava mo brekem smol bone blong left hand blong mi (shows this to the Court) oli bin sowemap long hospital. Hemi traem blong kilim head blong mi wetem be mi blokem so hemi brekem smol bone blong hand blong mi.

Evriwan nao oli faetem mi. Brian wetem Edgel mo Nickson istap long group finis. Hand blong olgeta I fas olbaot long body blong mi. Oli swigim knife I kam be mi blokem wetem bale knife blong mi. Mi stanap nomo blong blokem mi wetem knife blong mi taem hand blong olgeta istap kam long mi. Jif I traem stopem olgeta be hemi fraet long knife. Waef blong Jif oli go aotside blong singsingaot mo stap cry. Oli brekem wall nomo. Hand blong olgeta I fas long mi 10 times mo leg I fas 2 times long body blong mi.

Edgel Bule istap traem blong katem mi wetem knife be mi blokem hem wetem knife. Hemi stap usum raet hand blong hem. Hemi holem guava long raet hand blong hem too blong wipim mi. Taem mifala istap faet yet, Brian I pulumaot guava long Edgel mo kilimaot knife blong mi wetem. Taem ia, left hand blong mi I broke finis. Edgel I stil holem knife. Guava I bigwan olsem hand blong mi (show left arm). Knife blong Edgel hemi 65 cm. Mi save from mifala ol famli nomo mo mifala istap wokbaot tugeta. Mi luk taem hemi pem long stoa.

Edgel istap traem blong katem nek blong mi be mi stap blokem mi wetem knife. (Witness asked to demonstrate how fight took place at the time). Brian mo Benny istap faetem mi bihaen. Olgeta istap raon long mi abaot 3 metres away. Long taem ia ino gat smile, strong face nomo. Jif Thompson istap yet inside.

Ol narawan oli stap singsingaot mo cry aotside. Ol pipol oli harem mo oli kam. Mi no save go aotside from oli blokem door mo oli stap blokem rod blong mi wetem knife. Nickson Bule I traem blong katem mi wetem knife afta we Brian I holem wood mo kilimaot knife blong mi. Taem mifala istap faet yet, blad ino ron long Edgel we mi luk. End blong faet, Edgel hand blong hem I broke finis. Mi no bin luk we hemi broke from oli bin grup tumas long mi, mo mi no bin luk who long mifala I katem hem. Mi defendem mi wetem knife. Edgel I holem wan knife mo Nickson I holem wan knife. Nickson Bule I katem mi wetem knife long raet hand blong mi. Kinfe I fas long hed blong mi bakegen mo brekem. Afta Nickson I katem mi 2 times long bak blong mi be from mi werem wan thick shirt, hemi no mekem bigfala mark (shows where knife landed on back). Then oli pulum shirt blong mi mo sakem mi igo aotside mo Brian I sperem mi wetem bambaoo. Oli stap tok long mi olsem "yu ting se yu strong ia?"

Mi no save hao hand blong Edgel I broke. Mi gat blad istap ron long hed blong mi mo I blokem eye blong mi. Mi stap long graon afta oli lego mi. Mi askem kakae mo wota long olgeta woman we oli stap klosap mo oli tekem I kam givim long mi. Mi no mo go long toilet.

Blad istap long nose, mouth mo hed blong mi. Jif Thompson I kam luk mi mo talem long olgeta ia se "sapos yufala i gat strong heart, yufala i kam kilim hem i ded, mi no wantem luk pikinini blong mi istap lay daon olsem ia." Mi harem toktok ia mi fraet, mo mi nomo gat pawa.

Olgeta evriwan oli go, mi lay daon istap. Hamelton Bule igo be hemi tingbaot mi mo hemi kambak mo mi askem kakae long hem nao hemi givim breadfruit long mi. Mi askem wota too, ol woman oli harem oli cry. Oli kam leftemap mi mo givim wota long mi. Tufala hand blong mi I broke mekem se mi no save feedim mi mi wan.

Afta Jif Matthew ikam luk mi I askem se "yu kam afta yufala I mekem wanem?" Mi explainem long hem wanem I happen. Ol woman oli tekem wan mat I kam putum daon mo oli karem mi igo long haos. Naoia toktok igo raon long evriwan. Afta oli tekem rod blong karem mi ikam long Health Centre long Enah. Mi stap kasem 3 klok mo 3 man I kam karem mi long hill ia, ino gat rod. Oli karem mi, oli wokbaot mo oli spel go kasem big rod. Oli karem mi, oli wokbaot mo oli spel go kasem big rod nao afta wan trak I kam tekem mi I go long Health Centre. Mi slip wan naet afta oli transferem mi igo long long Vila. Mi go long plane long Lonorore. Mi stap 3 weeks long hospital afta oli sanem mi go stap long Ohlen. Mi stap pass nomo blong dressing.

Polis John I kam luk mi long Hospital long Vila mo tekem ol toktok blong mi abaot issue ia. Hemi bin kam 2 times. Festaem, mi no bin harem gud yet so hemi go bak. Mi story smol nomo long hem. Mi no remember date. Afta long hospital mi bin go stap wetem Polis Jim long Ohlen. Jim hemi wan cousin brata.

Yes mi mekem wan interview wetem polis. Taem ia igat cement yet long hand blong mi mo head blong mi igat plaster long hem. (Shown Record of Interview).

Mi no ansa pargraph 11 from mifala istop long lunch blong kambak long aftenun. Long paragraph 13 mi ansa from mi no bin meanim blong katem wan long olgeta boy ia wetem knife we mi holem hemi proteksen blong laef blong mi nomo. 

Long saet blong medical report, oli bin givim long Polis Tony mo Polis John long Enkul where tufala I deal wetem case ia. Long fes case blong mi long Vila, cement istap yet long raet hand blong mi. Left hand, oli tekemaot finis. Head i bin drae be thread we oli somapem mi wetem istap yet.

Oli bin sarem mi long Correctional Centre long Stade long 4 months. Mi bin mestem blong go long Court long wan taem. Mi askem bail long Kot so afta Court I givim bail, mi kambak long Pentecost. Mi kasem samons blong pass long Kot yesterday long ples ia."

FINDINGS

10.	All the witnesses, including the Accused were cross-examined in relation to their evidence in chief. As a result, the Court found that –

(a)	The prosecution did not discharge the burden of proof resting on them to the required standard. The important element the prosecutions had to prove was intention by the Accused to assault the deceased. All the evidence showed that the contrary was true. The Accused did not have any plans to fight or assault any of the boys Brian, Edgel, Benny or Nickson. Evidence showed rather that it was these boys who had the plan and intention to "kill" the Accused before there ever was a "tamata" or peace ceremony as arranged by the Chiefs.

(b)	Brian, Nickson and Benny said in their evidence that it was the Accused who went around looking for them to assault them. The Court did not believe that to be the truth, it was a fabricated story to try to shift all the blame on the Accused. They did not rebut or disprove the Accused's allegations of damage to property including the injuries which the Accused clearly sustained in the cause of the assault.

(c)	There was no clear evidence by any of the witnesses for the Prosecution that the Accused was clearly responsible for the injury Edgel (deceased) sustained to this right wrist. This was doubtful even more when the witnesses told inconsistent stories about knives. Chief Thompson told the Police that all the boys except Benny had knives in their hands when they went to assault the Accused. In cross-examination he attempted to change that story to make it compatible with the other's testimonies.

(d)	Of all witnesses Chief Thompson was the one who remained in his house all along when the fight was going on, and he should have remained neutral and testify exactly how he saw things happen if at all, in a step by step manner as the Accused did. Instead he told a one-sided story which tended to favour the deceased and the 3 boys who gave evidence in Court. This was an attempt to paint the Accused with all the responsibility of what happened on 6th August, without even beginning with the actions that occurred on 5th August 2008 which were allegedly done by the boys to the Accused's properties and family members.

Indeed, the Chief had gone to the extent of concealing that his wife Hamelton Bule and his two daughters and other family members were also present in the house when the Accused went that morning. Some of these made statements to the police and could have been called to give evidence but they were not.

(e)	That Brian had a bamboo and used it on the Accused when he was finally dragged by them out of the house out into the open was not rebutted or disproved. Further, that it was Brian who removed the guava branch from Edgel's hand and removed the Accused's knife with it was not rebutted or disproved by the prosecutions.

(f)	The inconsistencies appearing in the evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution were such that it cast doubt as to the credit-worthiness of all the witnesses. If three boys had knives and were using them in a fight against the Accused who also had a knife and was using it to defend or protect himself in the circumstances, then it created more doubt in my mind as to whose knife actually inflicted injuries to Edgel's wrist, upon the Accused's clear and consistent denials?

(g)	In such a situation where there is doubt, the legal position is clear that it is the Accused who must be given the benefit of that doubt, and I so ruled.

ISSUE OF SELF DEFENCE

11.	From the extensive evidence by the Accused, he had proven beyond reasonable doubt all the elements of self-defence under Section 23(1) of the Penal Code Act. The Court was satisfied from the evidence that –

(i)	The actions of Brian throwing the axe and the boys approaching the Accused with knives and pieces of wood (bamboo and guava) dictated the immediate necessity of defence by the Accused.

(ii)	The Accused acted appropriately to protect himself.

(iii)	The actions of the four assailants were unlawful and they caused an apprehension or fear of grievous bodily harm on the person of the Accused.

(iv)	The Accused's action was not disproportionate to the seriousness of the unlawful actions of the four assailants threatened.

The Court accepted the case authority cited by Mr Tavoa namely PP v. Willie Boe Cr. 46 of 2004 which sets out fully the elements of sef-defence under Section 23(1) of the Act.

CONCLUSION 

12.	For the above reasons, the Court reached the clear conclusion that the Accused was not guilty as charged and that he should be discharged of the charge and acquitted accordingly.

DATED at Luganville this 29th day of September 2009.

BY THE COURT

OLIVER A. SAKSAK
Judge