7 charged with wilful murder

POLICE in Kokopo, East New Britain, on Monday arrested and charged seven men from the West Coast Namatanai area with wilful murder.
Police commander Chief Inspt Joseph Tabali said the seven suspects were involved in two separate killings that happened on Aug 11 and 12 at Tanpakar ward 16 in the West Coast Konoagil local level government (LLG) area of Namatanai, New Ireland.
Chief Inspt Tabali told The National on Tuesday that the first killing happened on Aug 11 at 8pm and the second killing took place the next day between 2am and 4am.
“The matter was reported to Kokopo police over the weekend and the Kokopo Police Response Unit travelled to the crime scene by boat on Monday and apprehended the seven suspects involved in these two separate killings,” he said.
Chief Inspt Tabali said Kokopo police and detectives were investigating the killings.
He said one of the suspects, Tony Kaskas from Southern Highlands, who was now in police custody in Kokopo was alleged to have instigated the situation.
Police alleged that earlier this year, Kaskas was attacked by youths from East Sepik living at Tanpakar ward 16.
A planned compensation by the Sepik youths to Kaskas did not eventuate. Kaskas then retaliated after recovering from his injuries and the first killing took place on Aug 11.
The victim was Melki Vincent from Ambunti-Drekikier,East Sepik.
In response, Sepik youths attacked and killed an innocent man from Morobe.
The victim, Martin Peter, 21, was from Sialum in Morobe.
Police said five suspects allegedly involved in the second killing had been arrested, charged and detained in Kokopo.
The five suspects are Stanis Namatasu, Balise Vincent, Isaiha Vincent, Wanpis Ban and Michael Wangu.
Chief Inspt Tabali said the suspects would appear before the Kokopo District Court next week for first mention and their matter would be transferred to the Namatanai District Court.