Witnesses heard in Yacobus case

Witnesses heard in Yacobus case

JAKARTA: The prosecution brought seven witnesses before the
Central Jakarta District Court in the trial of an East Timorese
militiaman charged with murdering an international peacekeeper
from New Zealand two years ago.

One of the witnesses, Corp. Nicholas Alan Marfell, confirmed
that his International Peacekeeping Force patrol was attacked
first. However, he told the court, which was presided over by
Judge I Nengah Suriada, that he did not know who it was that
attacked.

The trial was adjourned until next week to hear other
witnesses. Prosecutor M. Syafei earlier said he would present
some 26 witnesses to the court.

Defendant Yacobus Bere, 37, is charged with killing Pvt.
William Leonard Manning, 24, in Debulilik hill, Suai, East Timor,
on July 24, 2000. --JP