Court adjourns murder case for cops to continue probe

By VANESSA NIKEN
A COMMITTAL court in Waigani has adjourned the case of a taxi driver charged with murder to give time to the police to gather more evidence.
Magistrate Paul Puri Nii said the charge was serious and warranted more time for the police to file evidence and adjourned hearing for ruling on Aug 4.
Herman Ukaria, 40, from Koroba Lake’s Fugwa village in Kopiago, Hela, resided in Hohola 1 with his wife and drives his own taxi.
Ukaria was allegedly seen at Hohola 1’s NHC hostel drunk near a store with Steven, Ukaria’s younger brother Judah and other men relatives.
While Steven and Robert Olakia, were drinking together, an argument broke out between Ukaria, Hiwi and Steven.
Olakia allegedly stepped in to help Hiwi, then Judah also stepped in to help his brother when a fight broke out.
During the fight, Ukaria and Olakia fought and were grabbing each other when they both fell into a puddle in the middle of the road and grappled to free themselves.
Ukaria then bit Olakia’s hand, forcing Olakia let go and Ukaria stood up, jumped on his taxi and drove away.
Not long after, Ukaria returned and allegedly parked his taxi and walked back to the fighting scene armed with a bush knife.
Olakia thought the fight was over and was still around when Ukaria, without saying a word, swung the bush knife at Olakia and started slashing him.
He then returned to his taxi and drove away.
Olakia was rushed to the hospital but died.
The matter was reported to police on Oct 2, and on Nov 12, Ukaria was arrested and charged with murder.