Manslaughter

Bainings Shootings

Charge

Now Dropped

THE dropping of the charge

manslaughter of five Baini

villagers against ADO W. A 1

was announced at Port Moresby

September 7.

On August 9, the Rabaul coroi (Mr. G. Hall) had committed Pat Leader Allen for trial after a th weeks’ inquiry into the death five men killed during an upris: in June.

On September 7, the Administra (Brigadier D. M. Cleland) said tl despite the coroner’s finding Crown Law officer (Mr. W. Watkii had decided not to proceed w the charge.

He said that Mr. Watkins \ using his discretionary powers af considering all the evidence hej at the inquiry.

A Rabaul report states that ms people had offered to pay the t fence costs if the case had gone the Supreme Court.