Two accused of murder appear in court, told to engage lawyer

TWO men accused of killing a man in Lae earlier this month appeared in court on Friday.
Jethro Kapete, 24, from Agatome village in Huon Gulf district, Morobe and Emmanuel Telki, 27, from Rambunjo village in Lorengau, Manus, appeared before Lae Committal Court Magistrate Nancy Lipa charged with the murder of Araba Max. Magistrate Nancy Lipai said the offence carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
She said police investigation was still ongoing to establish whether there was enough evidence to commit their case to the National Court.
Magistrate Lipai told the accused to engage a lawyer to apply for bail in the National Court since the District Court did not have the jurisdiction to allow bail for serious offences.
Police alleged that on May 2 at Waria Compound in Bumbu settlement, Lae the two accused were with some others at a residence.
It was alleged that the first accused Kapete had earlier got into a fight with another man before joining the second accused Telki and the others.
The man, who had fought with Kapete, returned with two other men and Max, looking for Kapete.
Police alleged that Kapete rushed the four men and attacked Max with a knife given to him by Telki. Kapete stabbed Max in the neck and caused him and the other three men to flee.
Max was taken to Angau Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police then arrested Kapete and Telki the next day.
The matter returns to court on June 22.