Baker’s errand runner killed

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
NOTORIOUS criminal Tommy Maeva Baker’s errand runner was killed in Alotau town by Milne Bay police when buying food for the fugitive, provincial police commander Supt Peter Barkie says.
The gang member, known as Gabby, was suspected of killing a policeman at Sanderson Bay in Alotau in 2016 during an armed robbery.
He was Baker’s errand boy and trustee who bought food, medicines, mobile phone units “…well basically everything that Baker needed”, Supt Barkie said.
He said Gabby was intercepted by police at a checkpoint in Alotau on Sunday when he was sent by Baker to buy food.
“Police recognised him when they stopped his vehicle to check him out.
“Police then searched him and the car and found live ammunition.”
Supt Barkie said police then attempted to arrest him to take him to the police station for interrogation.
“But he fought with police and escaped into the bushes despite police shooting him in the leg,” he said.
“On Monday morning a villager saw him with a wounded leg at a beach outside Alotau town.
“The villager didn’t know that it was Gabby but just saw him as a stranger.
“Gabby then asked the villager for a mobile phone to call Baker or his friends to tell them about his condition.
“However, the villager became suspicious and went to her house and called the police on her mobile phone to come and check out the injured stranger.”
Supt Barkie said police then went to the village but Gabby limped away to hide in the bush when he saw them.
He said Gabby swung a machete at a policeman when he was found.
Another policeman shot him and he was seriously injured.
Police took him to the Alotau General Hospital where he died yesterday morning.