Beheaded over sorcery

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A 37-YEAR-old man, accused of practising sorcery, was beheaded and dropped dead in front of his two horrified children in Raikos’ Kul village in Madang on Monday.
The sorcery execution of Brugen Berr, of mixed Kul and Yabob, was performed by four men who have been arrested.
Madang commander Supt Mazuc Rubiang said Berr’s two children were with him when the killers went to his home.
“They asked for betel nut which he handed over to them,” Supt Rubiang said.
“They then asked for a small knife.
“As he bent down to get the knife from his bilum, one of the four swung a bush knife, severing his neck from the back.
“He dropped dead in front of his horrified and frightened children.
“The killing is related to the death of a child on Sept 5 whose relatives suspected was due to sorcery.
“Another two deaths of an elderly man and another child were allegedly caused by Berr.
“Villagers spoke to police investigators who then went to Kul to investigate.
“Upon arrival, police took notes of the way the rest of the villagers were treating the death and the family members who were crying over the dead.
“Police left the scene and returned the next day.
“As police approached, they saw thick black smoke billowing from Kul.
“Police rushed there and found five village houses razed, with the villagers scattered in nearby bushes.
“Police learnt that the houses destroyed belonged to the alleged sorcery killers.
“Statements received pointed to Berr’s family from Yabob village who heard of the killing, arrived in Kul and armed with bush knives, spears and homemade guns chased the sorcery killers and their families who fled.”
Police then spoke to the people of Kul who handed over the suspected sorcery killers on Thursday.
The main suspect is 25.
All four suspects were charged with murder and will appear in court today.
They are detained in the Jomba police station lockup in Madang town.
Police are continuing to monitor the situation in Kul to ensure law and order is maintained.