Naked, burnt female body found

 By PISAI GUMAR

THE naked and partially-burnt body of a woman was discovered on the outskirts of Lae, police said.

Police are treating it as a murder and possible rape investigation.

Eyewitnesses at Kunai settlement discovered the body.

According to settlers, the woman, in her early 30s travelled to Lae from the Eastern Highlands and was being dropped off at Eriku last Thursday.

She is said to have made contact with a couple from the Eastern Highlands and stayed with them. On Friday, she disappeared until Saturday the body was found naked, lying dead and burnt.

Lae police metropolitan commander Supt Iven Lakatani was disturbed and believed the woman was killed.

“It’s time Morobe provincial government need to do something about settlements. Move the settlements far and out of city vicinity with a proper plan on how to settle people taking into consideration law and order control mechanisms,” Lakatani said.

He said that most law and order issues, especially sexual offences and brutal killings, were reported in settlements along the Miles area, Kamkumung, Bumbu, Hanta, Malahang and Back Road connecting with Uni Block.

Lakatani said: “We need to value and respect human lives despite gender. Women are our mothers, wives, aunties, sisters and daughters. 

“Women are our serenity, our home and hope from whom human lives materialise to realise human potential despite the pain women endure to give birth, feed and nurture us. Society can never exist without women therefore respect women.” 

Angau Memorial Hospital mortuary confirmed receiving the body, partially burnt on face and right arm, with part of the body eaten by dogs.

The body was shelved at the cooler and listed as “unknown body” awaiting relatives to show up to identify and claim the body.