Wilful murder charge for Wau man

A MAN from Wau, Morobe province, has been committed by the Lae District Court to stand trial in February for the death of a Watut man early this year.
Jeffery Giop, 32, of Biangai village was charged with one count of wilful murder of one Casper Pelias, contravening section 299 of the Criminal Code.
He appeared before the Lae District Committal Court last Wednesday.
According to court documents, it was alleged that on Jan 30, between 4.30am and 9.30am, the accused and his tribe of around 20 to 30 men set up an ambush at McAdam National Park, Bulolo.
They, armed with guns, bush knives and axes and proclaimed that they were landowners of the park, it was alleged. 
It was also alleged that they were targeting some Watut people living at Nenewi village, 1km from the park.
When the accused and his accomplices arrived at the park, they captured four Watut men and took them as hostages.
It was then alleged that during that time, the accused and his accomplices used bush knives to kill the victim.
They later dragged the body 200m away from the crime scene.
The body was discovered and retrieved by the victim’s accomplices several hours later.
The accused had been scheduled to appear before the National Court on Feb 1 next year.