Man accused of stabbing wife refused bail, faces trial

THE Lae Committal Court refused bail to a man accused of stabbing and assaulting his wife and committed him to trial in the National Court after finding enough evidence against him.
Ronald Pobo, 27, from Ialibu, Southern Highlands, charged with unlawful wounding appeared before magistrate Pious Tapil, who committed him to the National Court.
Pobo asked the court to allow him bail but the police prosecutor objected to his verbal submission, stating that the accused could interfere with state witnesses and the victim who was his wife.
Therefore, a proper bail application should be made with strict conditions before his bail could be allowed, the prosecutor said.
Police alleged that on Jan 24 at around 6pm, Pobo was drunk and went to see his wife. The victim was taking refuge at her parent’s house in China Town (Lae) after the accused had previously chopped her right leg with a bush knife.
She had recovered in hospital and had stayed with her parents to allow her wounds to heal.
It was alleged that the accused kicked open the main gate and went into the premises.
The wife saw him and tried to escape but the accused grabbed her.
While holding her, he took out a kitchen knife and allegedly stabbed her three times on the back.