House burnt in revenge

By JUNIOR UKAHA

THE house of a suspect in the murder of a young mother last Friday was burnt to the ground by angry relatives of the victim yesterday morning as an act of retaliation

Another suspect said to be an accomplice to the killing was picked up by police and is being interrogated.

He was hiding in a shipping container when police and the community broke open the container and apprehended him. 

Armed men backed by youths from the community surrounded the house at a small hill at Bewapi 9-Mile at 5.30am and set it alight.

Maria Drua from Bundi, Madang, who was adopted and raised by a Chimbu councillor, was slashed to death. 

Her body, covered in blood, was discovered the next day by the community metres away from her garden where she was last seen. 

The prime suspect, reportedly a known criminal in the area, fled.

He is still on the run, police said.

Witnesses said the men proceeded to burn a second house belonging to one of the suspect’s relatives but were stopped by police, who had arrived at the scene.

Lae metropolitan commander Iven Lakatani and officer in charge of community policing Gorek Peter  held talks with the families of the deceased and the suspect.

In the mediation, the victim’s father Kimson Drua said he wanted K50,000 and 10 pigs as compensation and a K1,000 funeral expenses.

He told the suspect’s relatives that the K1,000 should be given this week, while the K50,000 must be paid within a month.

“If they fail I will take action,” the former soldier said.

Lakatani said police were monitoring the situation to prevent further violence.

He told the relatives of the suspect to surrender him to ease the tension.