Men in court, accused of using spear guns in murder

TWO men appeared in the Central Committal Court on Thursday accused of killing a man last year at Morikini village in Abau, Central
Kapana Misi, 38, and Warava Onne, 51, both from Gavuone village in Abau appeared before Magistrate Marcus Nandape for mention after being charged with the murder of Issac Wapana on Dec 11.
Police files indicated that Misi and Onne in the company of 19 other men from the Keruerupu clan armed with bush knives, sticks, sharp steel rods and spear guns, entered the village and allegedly killed Wapana from the Ipatha clan, after an argument over a land issue.
Onne allegedly fired his spear gun and shot Wapana on the chest while Misi speared him on his left leg, also with his spear gun, causing his death.
The other clansmen fled the scene when they saw Wapana falling flat to the ground.
Police attended the incident and arrested 21 people.
They were taken to the Kupiano Police Station, then to 15-Mile Police Station, charged and detained.
All were later released and Misi and Onne were re-arrested.
Nandape requested that police prosecutor George Vetari liaised with the arresting officer to complete investigations and confirm the information.
“It would be an abuse of process of remanding the defendants for another three to six months again awaiting the investigation report,” he said.
The matter was adjourned to Feb 6.