Viet witness bid
A VIETNAMESE boat person on trial for murder is calling on the High Court to secure the attendance of a man he wants to call as a witness.
The step was taken by Pham Hoa, one of the 13 accused in the Sek Kong detention centre murder trial, after Deputy Judge Yeung refused in the High Court to grant an order to the Crown to detain the potential witness, Pham Si Dung.
The judge held that the Crown could only make such a request if the witness was to be called by the prosecution and not the defence.
Pham Hoa will file an application under Section 37 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance.
Under the ruling, if the court is satisfied a witness is unlikely to comply with a witness order or summons, it may issue a warrant to arrest him and bring him before the court.
The judge hearing the application also has to be satisfied the witness is likely to be able to give material evidence in the proceedings.
