Argument over betel nuts turns nasty, resulting in man’s death

AN ARGUMENT over betel nuts has resulted in a Manus man dying instantly after he was speared on the left side of his chest last Friday, police say.
Police commander David Yapu said yesterday the murder was reported at Bundrahi village at Pobuma LLG in Lorengau.
The dead man was identified as Allan Damien from Likum.
Yapu said the incident which took place last Friday was the result of betel nut theft.
Damien’s body is now at Manus Hospital morgue awaiting a post-mortem.
Yapu said a suspect was apprehended and was in police custody for further investigations before being formally charged.
He said other suspects were still on run and police were pursing them.
Yapu said the situation remained tense and he had deployed his officers to the area to monitor the situation. In other police reports, a prison escapee from Lorengau jail was arrested over the weekend.
Escapee Ken Lomai was charged with wilful murder with three others.
He was awaiting trial before the National Court when he escaped from jail in 2016.