Son dies, parents in court

A MAN and his wife appeared in court yesterday over the death of their 16-year-old son who they had accused of selling betel nut taken from their compound.
Before Lae Committal Court Magistrate Tera Dawai were Clive Sawon, 30, from Lumi in West Sepik, and Brenda Sawon, 23, from Kerowagi in Chimbu charged with the murder of Estan Sawon at Kamkumung village in Nawaeb district.
Magistrate Dawai explained to them the committal court procedures and that police would be given the mandatory three-month period to complete their investigation and present their case to the court.
“If there is enough evidence, (you) will be committed to the National Court for trial. If there is not enough evidence, the Committal Court has jurisdiction to (dismiss) the case,” Dawai said.
The two were advised to file an application for bail in the National Court if they wished to.
Police allege that on June 27, 2020, at around 7pm, Brenda informed Clive that Estan had taken some betel nut from their yard and sold them.
Police allege that Clive went out looking for Estan and found him having dinner at a relative’s home. Police allege that Estan was assaulted by his father.
He later managed to run away.
But his body was found in a garden by his friends the next day.
The case returns to court on Oct 17, 2020.