Man found guilty of killing 10 Chinese nationals
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Man found guilty of killing 10 Chinese nationals
PORT MORESBY: A man who killed 10 Chinese nationals in a robbery in
a shop on Manus Island about four years ago will be sentenced at a later date.
National Court judge Justice Vergil Narakobi in convicting
Graham Floyd Peter from Likum village, said on Friday (Feb 4, 2022) Peter had
caused the death of the 10 Chinese nationals by setting the building on fire
after looting it.
Details of the court proceedings were published by The National:
Man convicted
for killing 10 Chinese nationals during robbery
February 8, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
A COURT has convicted a Manus man for
killing 10 Chinese nationals during a robbery at a shop on Manus Island about
four years ago.
National Court Judge Vergil Narakobi in convicting Graham Floyd Peter, of Likum
village, said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Peter had caused
the death of the 10 Chinese nationals by setting the building on fire after
looting it.
Justice Narakobi, who presided over the case on Friday in Manus, said taking
into account all the circumstances of the case, the only reasonable inference
from the evidence was the guilt of Peter.
Peter’s co-accused Robillo Micah and Nathan Boas were discharged after the State
presented a nolle prosequi notice for both of them. The court heard that in the
early hours of Sept 22, 2017, Peter, in the company of some accomplices broke
into Splendid Star shop in Lorengau, stole an undisclosed sum of money and set
the building alight, killing 10 Chinese nationals.
The 10 Chinese nationals who were killed were women Yan Xiamei, Weng Yun, Li
Na, Yan Chenxia, Wu Fenghua, and men Yang Minghui, Shi Yun, Chen Shi Yi, Chen
Qinghua and Yan Xin.
The court heard that there was no direct evidence of Peter’s involvement,
except that he confessed to the crime to three witnesses, who were his close
relatives.
The State charged Peter with murder to which he pleaded not guilty.
Peter through his lawyer from the Public Solicitors Office, did not provide any
evidence and exercised his right to remain silent during the trial. The State
called five witnesses.
The State submitted that Peter had the motive to kill as he was terminated from
employment as a security guard, for allegedly stealing, and had an argument
with his boss, called “Boss Tom.”
The State also submitted that the cause of death of all the deceased was proven
by the medical reports of Dr Otto Numan and Dr Seth Fose.
They said they all perished in the fire at Splendid Star.
Peter, through his defence lawyer, submitted that the evidence of State
witnesses was not relevant to the issue of who committed the crime. Peter’s
lawyer also submitted that State had provided circumstantial evidence.
Justice Narakobi in his analysis of the evidence said Peter was living within
the vicinity of Splendid Star shop.
“No alibi has been called to explain where he was between 2am and 4am (on Sept
22, 2017) despite suggesting it in his record of interview,” Justice Narakobi
said.
“There is no dispute that 10 Chinese nationals had died from the fire of the
building.
“It is possible that the fire could have been started from human intervention.
“The accused was a former employee of Splendid Star, having been terminated in
2016.
“He was terminated for stealing and had an argument with his supervisor.
“This is the motive.
“He has confessed the crime to three independent and credible witnesses.”
Peter will return to court at a later date for sentencing.
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