Trio charged with murder granted bail

THREE men charged with killing a man in Port Moresby last year were granted bail by the National Court because there was no evidence that they are a threat to witnesses.
Acting Judge Laura-Wavun Kuvi made her ruling in Waigani when granting a K2,000 bail to Sledge Kaupa, 25, Junior Kauna, 32, and Zared Kauna, 30, all from Chimbu’s Kepai village.
“I am not satisfied that they are likely to interfere with any State witness or their lives are at risk.
“There is very little material before the court to support this argument,” she said.
Kuvi said, as agreed, there was a co-accused already out on bail and there was no allegation by the state that the co-accused had interfered with any state witness.
“However, factual circumstances of this case demonstrated I should exercise my powers to grant bail,” she added.
She also ordered that K1,000 be posted by two guarantors for each of the accused and that “the guarantors cannot be the same for any of the accused”.
Kuvi then adjourned the matter to today for the guarantors to be in court.
On Sept 5, 2020, the trio allegedly drove to the Wildlife settlement to pick up the deceased who was drinking alcohol.
They went to 14-Mile to celebrate Father’s Day and bought more beer along the way.
After the drinking, they drove the deceased to 8-Mile where they allegedly murdered him.