Lawyer’s charge to be revised

 By JACKLYN SIRIAS
A lawyer and businessman, in custody following the death of his wife, is to have his charge changed from manslaughter to murder.
Waigani Committal Court magistrate Cosmas Bidar told Felix Kange, 30, yesterday that he would remain in police custody to wait for his charge to be formally changed before his next appearance on Thursday.
Bidar said Kange was initially arrested and charged with manslaughter but an application was made by his lawyer Fredric Lunge to dismiss the charge so police could re-arrest him for murder.
Lunge told the court that Kange was charged with a wrong charge of manslaughter and should have it dismissed.
Bidar said the court would not dismiss the case but have it upgraded.
The court was supposed to make arraignment for Kange yesterday but Bidar said it was not in a position to do so.
“This court is not in a position to do arraignment because the counsel has made oral application to change the manslaughter charge to murder charge,” Bidar said.
Bidar adjourned the case to next week for the upgrade of the charge and for proper arraignment process.
Kange, from Maia village in Pangia District, Southern Highlands, was arrested and charged on allegations that he had killed his wife using a gun at his residence in Port Moresby on May 14. He was charged with manslaughter.