Husband, wife in court for rape

A MARRIED couple charged with raping a woman appeared at the Waigani Committal Court on Monday.
David Wari, 27, from Yakin village, Imbonggu, Southern Highlands and his wife Anna Wayali from Yandare village, Komo, Hela, were both alleged to have lured a woman into a taxi and took turns raping her repeatedly.
It was alleged that on April 19 at about 11pm, outside a night club, the victim Agnes Komo, 21, of Hisiu village, Bereina, Central was convinced by the two defendants that they would pay for her taxi fare and drop her at her home if she took a ride with them.
The couple then redirected the taxi to Gerehu instead of the victim’s home at Morata.
Once at an undisclosed location, they combined to sexually assault her. Wayali was alleged to have threatened the victim with a knife during the ordeal.
The victim managed to escape afterward and sought refuge at a nearby premises.
She stayed there until morning and went home afterwards with help of the owner of the premise.
The matter was reported to the police but no investigation was done.
Then on April 27, the victim was with her family at Vision City underground car park when she saw the two accused trying to get on a white vehicle.
She alerted her family members and with the help of the security guards, were able to stop the vehicle and captured the couple.
The couple were brought to the Boroko police station where they were formally charged with one count of rape and one count of deprivation of liberty.
They appeared before Magistrate Ernest Wilmot requesting to be released from custody because their case had dragged on for three months, without a conclusion because police had insufficient evidence.
Police Prosecutor Peter Samghy assured the court that the file would be ready.
Wilmot adjourned the case to Aug 20.