Manning trial verdict close

A verdict in the Private Leonard Manning murder trial is expected on Thursday, says Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff.

Prosecutor Muhammad Syafei had told the Central Jakarta Court that Yacobus Bere, aged 37, shot dead the New Zealand soldier during a militia attack in the East Timor jungle close to the border with the Indonesian-ruled Western province in July 2000.

Bere and six other men then mutilated Private Manning's body, Mr Syafei said.

Mr Goff, who is in Indonesia, said New Zealand Embassy observers at the four-month trial "generally feel the prosecution has been handled in a professional and competent way".

Bere faces a second-degree murder charge carrying a maximum of 15 years' jail.

Mr Goff was also pleased that the Indonesian Government had appealed against light sentences imposed on the killers of United Nations' workers and had won increases.

- NZPA

Feature: Indonesia

CIA World Factbook: Indonesia (with map)

Dept. of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia

Antara news agency

Indonesian Observer

The Jakarta Post

UN Transitional Administration in E Timor

East Timor Action Network