Men in court for police attack

National

TWO men from Goilala appeared in court charged with attempted murder of a police officer at Tapini, Central.
Amai Kitai and Atu Kuari, from Laobai village, Goilala, Central, stood before Magistrate Marcus Nandape in the Central Committal Court yesterday.
It is alleged that on March 30 between 8am and 9am, Kitai was with two men, Atu Kuari and Amuna Kuari (deceased) at Tapini market.
A complaint had been lodged by police officer Koiro Kape claiming that Kitai and his men had sworn at him.
Sgt Dedei Rara received the complaint and instructed two other police officers to bring the three in for questioning at Tapini police station.
It was alleged that when the two officers confronted the three, asking them to come in for questioning, they refused and started using abusive language at the officers.
Amuna was alleged to have been the one swearing at the officers.
When Sgt Rara heard what was said, he walked over to Amuna and told him “Yu liklik rat but yu wok lo still sakim tok stap, yu harim toktok na kam go long station” (You little rat, you’re still disobeying orders. Listen to instructions and come to the station).
Amuna went back to his house to get his bush knife after Sgt Rara had scolded him.
He came back to where Sgt Rara was and for no reason swung his bush knife at him.
Sgt Rara had lifted his left arm for cover, resulting in his left arm being chopped.
Amuna swung the knife again at Sgt Rara, cutting him in his same arm.
Kitai then threatened people stopping them to assist Sgt Rara.
The two police officers were shot at with bows and arrows after trying to help Sgt Rara.
Kitai and his accomplices escaped but surrendered when police closed in on their hideout.