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Law Today

A case or a controversy in the news, and the law of Papua New Guinea that would apply to it. Each article takes a real event, explains what happened, and then walks through the Papua New Guinea statute and case law that would govern the same facts here.

The news is full of legal questions, but the answers reported are usually answers under someone else’s law. Law Today takes one story at a time, states the facts as they have been reported, and then asks what would happen in Papua New Guinea: which offence, which defence, which court, which sentence. Every provision and every case is linked to the source on PacLII.

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1 questions and answers, grouped by subject.

Criminal law in the news

Crimes, defences, trials and sentences in the news, and how the Criminal Code and the courts of Papua New Guinea would deal with the same facts.

No. 1

The Lindsay Clancy Case: How Would Papua New Guinea Law Treat a Mother Who Kills Her Children While Psychotic?

The Lindsay Clancy mistrial explained, and the Papua New Guinea law that would apply to the same facts: wilful murder under section 299, the insanity defence in section 28 and who must prove it, infanticide under section 301 and its twelve-month limit, sections 569 and 592 on unfitness and insanity verdicts, the Mental Health Act 2015, and sentencing under Manu Kovi.

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Check the law yourself

Acts are amended, and figures and time limits change. Every article names the sections it relies on so you can read them. If a decision matters to you, get advice — start with the Office of the Public Solicitor, or find a firm in the law firms directory.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Papua New Guinea law and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change, and their application depends on individual circumstances. You should obtain professional legal advice for your specific situation. Read the full disclaimer.