Suspect in expat’s death served files

By GEORGINA KOREI
POLICE have completed and served files on a 21-year-old man charged with murder for allegedly killing an expatriate last February.
Police prosecutor Christian Iga informed the Waigani Committal Court yesterday that police investigation of the accused Bill John, from Barakau, Central, was complete and he had been served in October.
“Investigations were completed and served on the defendant on Oct 25, 2022, and the defence submission is still pending,” Iga told the court.
John was charged with the murder of expatriate Romulo Dominigo Antonio from Napte’s Rocos, Philippines.
Magistrate Albert Daniels adjourned the case to Feb 27 and told John to file and present his defence submissions then.
John’s lawyer Paul Paraka informed the court that he would file a defence submission for his client and present it on Monday. Police alleged that between 3pm and 4pm on Feb 5, 2022, John was driven to Antonio’s home at Kennedy Estate by driver George Mae where they picked up the deceased and headed to Gereka beach.
Mae dropped John and Antonio at the beach and left.
While John and Antonio were drinking, three of John’s friends approached and he allegedly told Antonio the men were his uncles.
Antonio then shared drinks and food with them.
The between 7.30pm and 8.30pm John and the other men attacked Antonio by striking him in the head with a metal bar.
Antonio fell and was beaten further until he was dead.
Police further alleged that the killers left the body on the beach and fled.
Between 1am and 2am the next day, John and his accomplices with the help of another man, returned to the beach and took Antonio’s body up to a hill and dumped it.