Police arrest pastor over killing

POLICE have arrested a pastor for killing a 23-year-old man who is believed to be his relative in Lae last Friday.
Lae metropolitan commander Chief Supt Chris Kunyanban said the killing occurred at 10-Mile outside Lae.
“The pastor approached the man who was with several friends sitting and telling stories in the Gudeng Elementary School ground,” he said.
“He started chasing and hitting the man and his friends.
“After the friends fled, the pastor grabbed a tree branch and hit the man’s back several times until he fell. The pastor then kicked him several times, again on his back, with the man calling out for mercy.
“The pastor then left,” he said.
Chief Supt Kunyanban said the man started feeling unwell and asked for water and started to vomit blood.
“He was then rushed to Angau Memorial Hospital for treatment but died on the way,” he said.
“A police report was lodged and the pastor was arrested and held in the Lae Central Police Station lock-up.”
On another matter, Chief Supt Kunyanban said: “We are now seeing an increase in petty crimes with opportunists operating in settlements. They are seen loitering in and around bus stops, looking for victims to pickpocket or rob.
“We have stepped up or crime-prevention patrols in settlements.
“Be it Government or customary settlements, they are fast becoming breeding grounds for crimes.”