Partner questioned over fatal beating

By REBECCA KUKU
PORT Moresby police are questioning a man over the “brutal” beating to death of a mother-of-two whose body was taken to the Port Moresby General Hospital on Tuesday.
Police identified the woman as 20-year-old Jenelyn Kennedy.
The incident occurred at Korobosea on Tuesday.
Police are questioning her partner and the father of her two children.
National Capital District Met Supt Perou N’dranou said they were treating the suspect as innocent until proven guilty in court.
It could not be confirmed late yesterday whether any charges had been laid against the man.
Police said Jenelyn’s body was taken to the hospital by three men in a white vehicle (registration number provided).
“Doctors at the hospital confirmed that she was already dead when she was brought in. The body had bruises from head to the toe and also knife wounds on her right leg and lower thigh,” police said.
Felisha Kari, the mother of Jenelyn’s best friend Elizabeth, told The National yesterday that at about 5.45pm on Tuesday, Elizabeth got a call from a relative of Jenelyn’s partner to go and check her body at the hospital.
“When my two daughters arrived at PMGH, the security guard told them that a vehicle had brought in a body of a mixed-race girl,” she said.
“Elizabeth knew instantly it was her friend. She started crying.”
Kari went to the hospital to see the doctors who confirmed that it was Jenelyn.
“They couldn’t allow me to see the body but asked me to bring her family. So I went in a taxi with my two daughters to Murray Barracks where her grandparents live, and brought them to the hospital.”
Kari said they were then allowed to view her body.
“She had bruises all over her body and was just left alone, lying on a bed,” she said.
Kari said Jenelyn was like a daughter to her as she was her daughter’s best friend. “She has two kids, a three-year-old and an infant. I am just torn,” she said.