Hagen mum to face murder trial

THE Mt Hagen mother who allegedly killed her four children before surrendering to police in July this year, is to stand trial in the National Court for wilful murder.
Mt Hagen District Court Magistrate Sasa Inkung, yesterday committed Elis Onda to stand trial in the National Court in Waigani on four counts of wilful murder, a charge that carries the death penalty in PNG.
Onda, 35, had been in custody since she was charged and appeared before Magistrate Inkung yesterday.
Mr Inkung read out and explained the charges to her, but she remained silent and did not respond.
He then made the decision to commit her to stand trial based on evidence supplied by the police and police records of interview which suggest that the defendant admitted to killing her four children.
The court ordered that Onda remain in custody while she awaits her trail in the National Court, which will set a date for her case to be heard.
Onda, of Kuiya village outside Mt Hagen, shocked the nation when she allegedly killed her four children by drowning them in the Kum River, some 2km away from her village.
The incident happened in the early hours of July 4.
Her husband was not at home at the time.
She surrendered to police later that day.
The killing of the children outraged the community, with some community leaders calling for the person found guilty to be put to death by hanging.
A public funeral service was held for the children before they were buried in their village.
Onda was charged with four wilful murder charges under Section 299(1) of the Criminal Code Act.
She was charged after five days of interview with the police.
The deceased were identified as Angeline eight; Theresia seven; Naomi five; and two-year-old boy Solomon.