5 arrested for murder

THE Lae District Court yesterday remanded four men and a woman charged with murder to Buimo jail for the next three months as they wait on police to complete investigations.
Magistrate Pious Tapil, who presided over the case, told Noah Henry 25, Tommy Matul, 20, Bill Matul, 51, Eliab Korima, 31 and Kylie Moduwa, 30, all of Malai Island, Siassi, Morobe, to remain in custody for the next three months while police completed their investigations.
He said Section 4 of the Bail Act did not allow the District Court to grant bail for those charged with serious crimes such as murder.
He said bail could only be applied for at the National Court.
The court heard that on July 17 between 5pm and 5.30pm, the male defendants were alleged to have gone to Top Town in Lae to pick up Moduwa.
According to a police report, the male defendants had gone there after receiving phone calls from Moduwa, telling them that her husband, Charles Palei (deceased), was seen at the main entrance of the Bank South Pacific branch.
The report stated that while the male defendants were waiting for their sister (Moduwa), a fight broke out between Palei and the male defendants.
During the fight, Palei was punched several times when he fell on the footpath and was later taken to hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.
The defendants were formally arrested and charged with murder.
The case was adjourned to Nov 6.