Two suspects in former MPs death found guilty

TWO men accused of causing the death of former Kundiawa-Gembolg MP Peter Waieng at Roku village in Central six years ago have been found guilty by the Waigani National Court.
Justice Panuel Mogish convicted Ray Atabe and Seviro Ganiga of one count each of manslaughter on Thursday before adjourning the case to March 2 for submissions on sentencing.
The two were initially charged with wilful murder. Mogish in his ruling, assessed the argument of provocation.
Mogish said “provocation makes a big difference in the charge of manslaughter but not to a charge of wilful murder or murder.”
“The deceased provoked Ganiga when he stoned him and punched him to the ground. The accused (Ganiga), with a knife from his trousers, stabbed the deceased,” he said.
“In this case, I’m satisfied that Ganiga was provoked in the non-legal sense on the fact of provocation. Did Ganiga intend to kill the deceased? Ganiga was not interested on the arguments of the deceased and the woman. He only came in when the woman called out to him for assistance.
“On the evidence before me, I’m satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the two accused aided and abetted each other in the commission of the offence. I find them both not guilty of the offence of wilful murder or murder, but guilty to the offence of manslaughter.”
On Aug 22, 2013, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, Waieng was with a woman at Roku village in Central.
The woman and Waieng had an argument and he started to physically assault her. She then called out for help and Ganiga came to her aid. It was later revealed that the cause of the death was multiple stab wounds to the body.