Teacher dead after road attack

By PHEOBE GWANGILO
A FEMALE primary school teacher died after being slashed in the head in an attempted holdup along the Hiritano Highway over the weekend.
Central police commander Insp Patterson Birigi told The National yesterday that Benedith Aisa Angapue, 50, senior teacher who taught at Inauai Primary School, was travelling with her family to Port Moresby on Saturday when drunk youths allegedly tried to hold up their vehicle.
“The deceased and her family were traveling into Port Moresby in an open-back utility between 6pm and 8pm on Saturday,” he said.
Angapue was from Inaua village in Kairiku.
Insp Birigi said the incident happened at Baramata, a section of the highway where drunk youths were by the roadside.
“The deceased was sitting outside when the vehicle approached Baramata,” he said.
“A couple of youths came out (onto the road) and attempted to hold up the vehicle, but the driver swung the vehicle and avoided them.”
He said one of suspects then swung a bush knife and hit Angapue in the back of her head, causing her to bleed heavily.
She was rushed to the Port Moresby General Hospital but died along the way.
“They rushed her to the Port Moresby General Hospital, but she died from loss of blood,” he said.
He said police units raided a village at Baramata and picked up the prime suspect who was in custody and expected to be charged to appear in court this week.