Murder charge dropped

By JACINTA COHLEE
A 41-YEAR-OLD man was discharged by the Lae Committal Court on Monday after it found there was no reliable witness to support the charge of wilful murder.
The court also found that Christopher Bangam, from Keweng village in Kabwum, Morobe, first appeared in court on Dec 12.
In a letter from the arresting officer presented in court before Magistrate Pious Tapil, the arresting officer told the court that he could not complete the hand-up brief to be presented in court because there were no witnesses to provide evidence.
Tapil said despite it being a serious charge the court would struck it out because there was no strong evidence and Bangam had been in custody for more than four months.
Police alleged that on Dec 1, 2021, Bangam had an argument with his wife Zibat Gotnan over their daughter’s grade eight graduation and punched her several times at Wawin station, Markham.
After that incident Gotnan went missing for a week prompting her family to look for her.
Bangam allegedly did not take part in the search and the family and community then suspected him of being responsible for his wife’s disappearance.
On Dec 7, the Gotnan’s body was found in thick bush under the stump of an old tree about 500-metres from the family home.
On the same day Bangam was arrested with the help of local people and taken to Chivasing police station for questioning in relation to his wife’s death.
The defendant was then taken to provincial police headquarters in Lae, interrogated and eventually charged with wilful murder.