Re Joseph Mavuk [1980] PNGLR 507
Jurisdiction | Papua New Guinea |
Judgment Date | 05 December 1980 |
Docket Number | Supreme Court Reference No 3 of 1980 |
Year | 1980 |
Citation | [1980] PNGLR 507 |
Court | Supreme Court |
Judgement Number | SC189 |
Full Title: Supreme Court Reference No 3 of 1980; Re Joseph Mavuk [1980] PNGLR 507
Supreme Court: Kidu CJ, Greville–Smith J, Pratt J
Judgment Delivered: 5 December 1980
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
[SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE]
IN THE MATTER OF A REFERENCE TO THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE UNDER S. 18 OF THE CONSTITUTION AND IN THE MATTER OF JOSEPH MAVUK AND 5 OTHERS.
SUPREME COURT REFERENCE NO. 3 OF 1980.
Waigani
Kidu CJ Greville Smith Pratt JJ
2 December 1980
5 December 1980
CRIMINAL LAW — Practice and procedure — Legal representation of accused — Right to defence "counsel of his choice" — Choice subject to proper exceptions — Legal ethics — Counsel of choice earlier involved on prosecution side of case — Discretionary power in court to refuse permission to appear — Constitution, s. 37 (4) (e).
Section 37 (4) (e) of the Constitution provides that a person charged with an offence, "shall be entitled to defend himself before the court in person or, at his own expense by a legal representative of his own choice ..."
Held
(1) The right of an accused person under s. 37 (4) (e) is not absolute; his "choice" is subject to all proper exceptions.
(2) Proper exceptions include cases where counsel may be rendered ineligible to appear on a legal ethics basis, for example where the counsel chosen was earlier involved in the case as Deputy State Solicitor and State Prosecutor.
(3) Per curiam: A trial judge has power in the exercise of an inherent jurisdiction to refuse, if necessary, to permit counsel to appear for accused persons.
Reference
This was a reference pursuant to s. 18 (2) of the Constitution of a question of law from a judge of the National Court the question being:
"Has Joseph Mavuk and his five co-accused got the right under s. 37...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
Tamara Player Tomscoll v The Independent State of Papua New Guinea (2012) SC1208
...The State (2007) SC913 Masolyau Piakali v The State (2004) SC771 Kepa Wanege v. The State (2004) SC742 SCR No 3 of 980: Re Joseph Mavuk [1980] PNGLR 507 Motor Vehicles Insurance (PNG) Trust v. James Pupune [1993] PNGLR 370 Motor Vehicles Insurance (PNG) Trust v. John Etape [1994] PNGLR 596 ......
-
Kohu Morea v The State (2020) SC1957
...(N292 (L) Independent State of Papua New Guinea v. Kofowei [1987] PNGLR 5 John Tolna & Ors v. Paul Ari [1980] PNGLR 23 Joseph Maruk [1980] PNGLR 507 Kawaso Ltd v. Oil Search PNG Ltd (2012) SC1218 Kayo v. Pawa (2015) SC1469 Kereyal v. Police Commissioner (1966) N1437 Kitogara Holdings v. NCD......
-
Gordon Gala Junior v The State (2017) SC1629
...Kutau Kitawal v The State (2007) SC927 Gabriel Laku v The State [1981] PNGLR 350 Gedai Kairi v The State (2006) SC831 In re Joseph Mavuk [1980] PNGLR 507 John Beng v The State [1977] PNGLR 115 O’Toole v Scott [1965] AC 939 Saperus Yalibakut v The State (2006) SC890 Tamara Player Tomscoll v ......
-
Dominic Kanduo v The State
...[1981] PNGLR 482 Rahonamo v Enai (re Hitau) [1971-72] PNGLR 58 Re Nali and Manigut [1984] PNGLR 55 SCR No 3 of 1980; Re Joseph Mavuk [1980] PNGLR 507 Tamara Player Tomscoll v The State (2012) SC1208 The State v Toroken, Ex Parte Perera (1981) N281 William Norris v The State [1979] PNGLR 605......
-
Tamara Player Tomscoll v The Independent State of Papua New Guinea (2012) SC1208
...The State (2007) SC913 Masolyau Piakali v The State (2004) SC771 Kepa Wanege v. The State (2004) SC742 SCR No 3 of 980: Re Joseph Mavuk [1980] PNGLR 507 Motor Vehicles Insurance (PNG) Trust v. James Pupune [1993] PNGLR 370 Motor Vehicles Insurance (PNG) Trust v. John Etape [1994] PNGLR 596 ......
-
Kohu Morea v The State (2020) SC1957
...(N292 (L) Independent State of Papua New Guinea v. Kofowei [1987] PNGLR 5 John Tolna & Ors v. Paul Ari [1980] PNGLR 23 Joseph Maruk [1980] PNGLR 507 Kawaso Ltd v. Oil Search PNG Ltd (2012) SC1218 Kayo v. Pawa (2015) SC1469 Kereyal v. Police Commissioner (1966) N1437 Kitogara Holdings v. NCD......
-
Gordon Gala Junior v The State (2017) SC1629
...Kutau Kitawal v The State (2007) SC927 Gabriel Laku v The State [1981] PNGLR 350 Gedai Kairi v The State (2006) SC831 In re Joseph Mavuk [1980] PNGLR 507 John Beng v The State [1977] PNGLR 115 O’Toole v Scott [1965] AC 939 Saperus Yalibakut v The State (2006) SC890 Tamara Player Tomscoll v ......
-
Dominic Kanduo v The State
...[1981] PNGLR 482 Rahonamo v Enai (re Hitau) [1971-72] PNGLR 58 Re Nali and Manigut [1984] PNGLR 55 SCR No 3 of 1980; Re Joseph Mavuk [1980] PNGLR 507 Tamara Player Tomscoll v The State (2012) SC1208 The State v Toroken, Ex Parte Perera (1981) N281 William Norris v The State [1979] PNGLR 605......