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