By PETER MIVA
LAE police have arrested and charged a mother with manslaughter for killing her 10-year-old daughter.
She was alleged to have beaten the girl to death with a stick at the West Taraka suburb last Tuesday.
Details of the incident are sketchy but metropolitan commander chief Supt Nema Mondiai said the mother was angry because the daughter failed to come home quickly from playing with her friends.
Supt Mondiai said the girl arrived at about 6pm, angering the mother, who then beat her up.
He said the girl died later that night and the father, who arrived soon after discovered the fate of the child and reported the mother to police.
Supt Mondiai did not release the identities of the dead girl and her mother but said the family was believed to be from Pindiu, Finschhafen district, Morobe.
Meanwhile, a 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 39-year-old man at Boundary Road last Wednesday night.
Supt Mondiai said police had arrested Jacob Walbo, from Unupi village, Nipa, in Southern Highlands province, after he allegedly dragged the young girl into a pig sty, forced her to the ground and raped her, not far from her home.
He said the man was in police custody charged with the rape of a minor and was expected to appear before the District Court for mention.
Supt Mondiai said the victim had been referred to the hospital for medical checks and released.
Police have also arrested eight suspects after they allegedly raped a 22-year-old woman at the Bumbu River bank last Tuesday evening.
Supt Mondiai said the woman was walking with her husband towards Talair Compound when they were confronted by a group who threatened them and dragged the woman towards the river at around 6.30pm and allegedly raped her.
The husband alerted police, who apprehended the man soon after the incident.
Police are also investigating the alleged rape of a mother of two at her home by an escapee last Tuesday night at West Taraka.
Supt Mondiai said the escapee, Foxy Kia, entered the victim’s home at about 2am, forced her out at knife point and raped her in the dark. Kia is still at large.