The three people accused of attacking champion boxer, Joseph Parker, appeared in the District Court yesterday.
Jackie Chan Tung-Meredith, her husband, Mark Meredith, and his brother, Robert Meredith, are jointly charged for assault.
The charges stemmed from an alleged incident that occurred last December inside Club-X at Matautu-tai. District Court Judge, His Honour Fepulea’i Ameperosa Roma, presided over the matter. The defendant s wer e represented by lawyer, Te’o Richard Fa’aiuaso. Sergeant Kenneth Komiti, of the Police, is the prosecutor.
Yesterday, he made an application to the Court to adjourn the matter until 21 May. The court heard this is the only available time for the complainant, who is also the alleged victim, and his mother to appear before Court. But Te’o opposed.
“The court is not at the convenience of these witnesses, one that is in New Zealand and the other in the United States,” said Te’o. “If they wanted to prosecute the charge they should have attended yesterday (Thursday).”
In the absence of prosecution witnesses, the matter was adjourned to 10am yesterday.
Te’o argued that there was no need for the prosecution to seek more time. He also made an application to have all the charges against his clients dismissed.
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He told the Court that the prosecution’s application for an adjournment was unacceptable because his clients are business people who need to travel outside of Samoa regularly for their business.
Since the beginning of January, they have not been able to leave the country.
So he asked that the proposed adjournment date be brought forward for this reason. But his request was not granted.
“I have considered all those matters and the application by prosecution for an adjournment is granted,” said Judge Fepulea'i.
“The application by the defence to dismiss the charges against the defendants is denied.”
Judge Fepulea’i said that “yesterday (Thursday) was the first hearing date and prosecution advised the court of the non-appearance of the witnesses”.
The reasons are valid, he said.
“This matter is adjourned to the 26 May for hearing and this will be a final adjournment and if prosecution is unable to produce its witnesses, then the defence counsel can make an application for dismissal of the charges.”
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