...Under Pressure...

The original statement of claim had identified five plaintiffs. Sadly, Celuia Salee had died shortly after the claim had been filed. Now, just before the Supreme Court was to begin its hearing, the Reverend Dave Passi and his brother Sam Passi both withdrew as plaintiffs. The plaintiffs now numbered two: Eddie Mabo and James Rice. During his opening, Ron Castan alerted the court to the fact that James Rice had been under pressure to also withdraw as a plaintiff. Such attempts to suborn a plaintiff, Castan warned, were of the utmost seriousness. Clearly, the stakes were high.

Keywords: Castan, Ron, claim, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Passi, Reverend Dave, plaintiffs, plaintiffs, Rice, James

Author: Kenna, Jonathan