Court to rule on O'neill's arrest warrant today

The National Court will hand down a decision today whether to stay a warrant of arrest obtained by police three weeks ago for Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

The court last Friday heard lengthy submissions from police lawyer Mal Viritomos, the third person to do so since the urgent application was filed.

Justice Ere Kariko fixed the ruling to eleven a-m today(Tuesday 1st July).

Viritomos had said the court has jurisdiction to grant a stay on the arrest warrant.

Tiffany Twivey for the prime minister said the court must intervene to prevent further tension within the force itself and prevent civil or social unrest.

She told the court there is already friction within the police.

A bumper of crowd is expected to turn up, with police also tightening security around the court precincts.