Siblings appear in court

A BROTHER and sister appeared in the Lae Committal Court charged with the wilful murder of the sister’s de facto husband and have been given time to arrange a lawyer and prepare a submission.
They will appear again on Aug 17.
Michelle Tanggwo, 41, and her brother Kitthy Tanggwo, 24, from Menyamya, appeared before Magistrate Pious Tapil charged with a count each of the wilful murder of Geoka Kupa last Dec 9.
They expressed their right for a fair hearing and that they were in custody at Buimo jail for a long time.
Magistrate Tapil told the two that submissions were for those offenders who were committed by the Committal Court to the National Court and did not appear in court for a long time.
However, in their case, it was the police investigation on the evidence of the charges against them that the court would be looking at.
The court heard that the incident occurred last Dec 9 at about 1pm at the Menyamya Station in Morobe.
Kupa was chewing betel nut with a friend at a market when Michelle allegedly approached from behind and stabbed him on the neck with a kitchen knife.
She pulled out the knife and allegedly stabbed the victim on his back and again on his left arm.
Then bystanders helped Kupa towards a health centre.
On the way, he was vomiting and coughing blood while Michelle allegedly followed, still trying to stab him.
Kitthy, who was drinking alcohol in a vehicle parked along the road, saw them and approached the victim, allegedly punching him on the chest.
Blood spewed out of Kupa’s neck and Kitthy allegedly punched the victim until he fell to the ground.