Villager knifed to death

A RIOLE villager was knifed to death in a drunkard brawl in Milne Bay, Alotau, on Friday.
Milne Bay police commander Supt Peter Barkie said one murder suspect was arrested and charged with manslaughter while another suspect was still at large.
He said the brawl was between youths from the village and settlers in the Huhu local level government (LLG).
“A Riole villager was allegedly knifed to death by a settler in Alotau during a drunkard brawl in Milne Bay,” he said.
“It was a drunkard brawl mostly between the youths from the village and the settlement in the Huhu LLG and Esa’ala setters.”
Supt Barkie said the villagers had also torched three houses belonging to the settlers whom the villagers wanted to evict yesterday.
“Police managed to intervene and brought the situation under control,” he said.
“The brawl was caused by the youths consuming cheap alcohol bought from the shops.
“They had been drinking Thursday night to Friday morning before the deadly brawl erupted.
“The provincial law and order committee is now planning to ban the selling of such cheap alcohol in the shops.
“These cheap alcohol products are affordable to youths and we are seeing a surge in public disorder.”