Double murder, rape case adjourned

By HEZRON KISING
A DOUBLE murder and rape case allegedly committed by a teenager between Dec 2019 and Jan 2020 in Morobe was adjourned to April by a court after the accused was not brought to court from custody by Correctional Services officers in Lae.
Lae Committal Court Magistrate Pious Tapil adjourned the case of Sarox Martin, 18, from Brumkuat in Finschhafen, Morobe, to April 17 after he was not present in court on Wednesday for his second mention.
Police prosecutor Sr Constable Orpha Nathan asked the court for an adjournment since police investigation were still continuing and that it would give enough time for the investigation to be completed for a file to be presented in court.
Police alleged that on Dec 26, 2019, at around 11am the first victim (now deceased) Dora Verong, 12, was following her mother to the garden when she met the accused (Martin).
It was alleged that the accused asked her where she was going and she told him that she was looking for her mother.
The accused then, picked up a large rock and hit her on the head causing her to fell to the ground.
He then removed her clothes and raped her.
The parents alerted the villagers and a search was conducted but they could not find her.
The body was found four days later lying naked in the bushes. It was taken home and buried.
On Jan 10, 2020 at 2pm the accused allegedly attacked, raped and killed a second victim, Linda Poi, 14. It was alleged that she was at her house while her mother had gone to their neighbour’s house.
She thought her mother had attended a village meeting so she followed her and met the accused on her way.
The accused pulled her into nearby bushes, again got a rock and hit her on her head where she fell on the ground and raped her.