Supreme Court

Justice Mery Sey issued these directions Tuesday when the appellant and defendants to the case sat with their lawyers at the first conference since the case was referred to the Supreme Court.

Among the directives, Justice Sey warned the defendants, most of whom are MP and state ministers that they need to be present in the court room when the case is called.

The Supreme Court judge also conditioned the defendants not to travel abroad while the case is in court.

The Public Prosecution John William Timakata told the court the prosecution will produce 48 witnesses.

In a sharply divided 4-3 ruling, the court declared the death penalty violates the state's constitution, "no longer comports with contemporary standards of decency and no longer serves any legitimate penological purpose."

The Supreme Court this week declared a decision by the newly-appointed speaker of parliament, Marcellino Pipite, to rule out the opposition's motion of no confidence against the new prime minister Sato Kilman, and ordered parliament to reconvene on Tuesday to hear it.