Police fire on family

Main Stories, National
Source:

The National, Friday 3rd May 2013

 By ARMSTRONG SAIYAMA

POLICE are investigating why a girl was killed and her mother seriously wounded after officers opened fire on the family car along Waigani Drive in Port Moresby.

Yesterday, angry relatives and friends of the family presented a petition to police at the Boroko police station (see story on Page 4).

National Capital District police operations commander Perou N’dranou said the police were investigating the incident on April 19 along Waigani Drive.

“I want to assure the relatives that our investigation is still continuing,” he said.

He stressed that police would not entertain rogue officers in their ranks.

Ekai tribal leader Julius Kera alleged the officers fired indiscriminately at the family car in Port Moresby on April 19.

“The deceased was Felin Bune, 12, and her mother is Tenis Bune,” Kera said.

The Bunes were travelling in the family car when they were chased by a group of people in another vehicle near the National Housing Corporation headquarters at Tokarara.

Kera said the men chased the Bunes in their car to Hohola police station.

“The drunkards drove their car ahead and blocked the road to the police station,” he said. 

He said the Bunes were scared and their driver quickly turned around. 

The chase continued through Wards Road towards the Islander traffic lights.

“Police spotted the Bunes’ speeding car at the Islander traffic lights, chased them and fired bullets at the car,” Kera said.

He said the seven to eight policemen were travelling in a light blue Toyota Land Cruiser Troop Carrier (ZPD 071) opened fire at them.

The policemen fired at them at Waigani Drive between the traffic lights at the Boroko Motors.

“The policemen again fired shots at them at the bus stop adjacent to the Vision City Mega Mall opposite the Sir Hubert Murray Indoor Sports complex,” Kera said.

He said the Bunes stopped the car at the bus stop adjacent to the Vision City Mega Mall and surrendered, but the policemen continued firing at them.

“Felin Bune was hit three times on her back resulting in her death. 

“This occurred at the Waigani Drive section of the road near the Heritage House and the second rounds of shots wounded Mrs Tenis Bune, who has bullets lodged in her back close to her left shoulder,” Kera said. 

He said the policemen took the wounded mother and her children with the driver to the Port Moresby General Hospital.

“Two policemen drove the wounded girl to the hospital, and she was rushed to the operating theatre but was pronounced dead,” Kera said.