Hela man found guilty of murder

 A HELA man has been found guilty of murdering another man during a tribal fight in the province.

Tari National Court Judge Martin Ipang convicted Luke Andaya, from Nogoli of Komo in Hela. Sentencing will be later.

Andaya’s brother Nathan Andaya was cleared of a similar charge because evidence did not confirm he fired the gun to kill Bushman Yendeng on March 8, 2014. The court heard that the Andayas’ Ware-Mapulu clan was at war with Ware-Halia when Yendeng was killed at Nogoli. Yendeng was with a Wabag businessman, Paulus Mark, who owned trade store and wholesale business there. 

The land belonged to Stanis Talu from Ware-Halia tribe, who permitted Mark to do business.

Yendeng and others, including Mark, were standing in their premises when the fight involving firearms neared them. 

Then Luke shot Yendeng in the head and neck. Nathan shot him on the chest. 

Ipang, in his 21-page decision, said Nathan Andaya denied committing the murder. The doctor confirmed the death on March 8. 

The medical report showed that the victim sustained gun wounds to the head and neck. No other injuries were noted. Ipang said the evidence by witnesses contradicted the medical report on injuries to the head and the neck. It did not show injury on the chest.