Wee dispute leaves one dead

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
AN argument over urinating in public led to the death of a man at the Tega section of the Highlands Highway in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands.
The deceased has been identified as Thomas Tipa from Komo district, Hela.
Tipa was walking along the road with a woman and two children when he saw a man stopping his bus and urinating on the road.
Police said when Tipa asked him why he was doing it in public, the man got angry and punched him several times.
“Tipia died two days later at the Mt Hagen General Hospital,” police said.
During a peace negotiation ceremony yesterday at Tega, witnessed by new provincial police commander Supt Martin Lakari and his officers, it was alleged that three boys travelling in the bus joined in the assault.
Tipa’s relatives have demanded K245,000 and 70 pigs as bel kol compensation from the man who is from Kavieng, New Ireland.
Lakari told Tipa’s relatives that police would arrest the boys still at large and confiscate the bus.
“The problem happened in Mt Hagen must be resolved peacefully here.
“I don’t want it to spread to Komo or Kavieng,” he said.