THE son of a former Papua New Guinea prime minister appeared in court yesterday charged with attempted murder.

William Jack Skate, 21, son of Bill Skate, has been accused with three other men of trying to kill a Brisbane nightclub patron last April.
Mr Skate is facing a three-day preliminary hearing in Brisbane before magistrate Noel Noonan.

I think your title should've been "Former PM's son on kill charge".

but anyway thanks for the info

THE son of former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Bill Skate is facing court in Brisbane on an attempted murder charge.

William Jack Skate has been accused of attempting to kill a nightclub patron with three other men in Brisbane's inner city in April this year.

The 21-year-old is facing a three-day committal hearing in Brisbane's Magistrates Court over the alleged attack on April 13 this year in which Brian English was thrown backwards, falling 7m over a footbridge, and kicked on the ground.

Skate has been charged with attempted murder and grievous bodily harm but has not yet been required to enter a plea to the charges.

His co-accused Walsale Gatasa Naqiolevu, 23, Derek Tuck Seng Quang, 21, and Vagi Loa, 22, are facing similar charges including torture and wilful damage.

A magistrate struck out an attempted murder charge against the son of former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Bill Skate.

Brisbane Magistrate Noel Noonan said William Jack Skate, who was charged after an attack on a nightclub patron in April last year, had no case to answer.

He discharged the 21-year-old who had faced a five day committal hearing in Brisbane's Magistrates Court on a charge of attempted murder, or alternatively grievous bodily harm.

Magistrate Noonan said although Skate was involved in a brawl in Brisbane's Dome Nightclub and subsequent chase, there was no evidence to identify him as being involved in the attack.

Brisbane man Brian English fell seven metres over a footbridge outside Brisbane's Admiralty Towers on Queen Street in the early hours of April 13.

The 21-year-old suffered a broken leg in the fall and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Skate and three other men were accused of throwing Mr English off the footbridge and throwing beer bottles at him before kicking him as he lay on the ground.

The court heard Skate had a fight with Mr English at a 21st birthday party at the Adelaide Street nightclub beforehand.

He was then involved in a chase by several party-goers and was punched by Mr English before falling to the ground.

Magistrate Noonan found it would have been impossible for Skate to be at the footbridge when Mr English fell.

He also struck out the same charges against co-accused Walsale Gatasa Naqiolevu, 23, and Vagi Loa, 22.

But he ordered Derek Tuck Seng Quang, 21, who was identified at the scene, to stand trial in Brisbane's Supreme Court on the charges.

©2003 AAP