Police serve files on student

Police have served files to a grade 11 student who allegedly killed an expatriate.

Billy John, 21, from Barakau village in Rigo, Central, was charged with the murder of Filipino Romulo Dominigo Antonio in February.

Police prosecutor Sgt Christian Iga informed the Court that the police files had been completed and served to John on Tuesday (October 25).

John’s lawyer, Obadah Himore, from the Public Solicitor’s Office, said he was not aware that police had served the files to his client and made an application to strike out the case.

Waigani Committal Court magistrate Paul Puri Nii adjurned the case to November 10 and advised Himore to present his client’s defense submission.

Police allege that between 3pm – 4pm on February 5, John and a driver George Mae went to Antonio’s house at Kennedy Estate, picked him up and went to Gereka beach.

It is alleged that Mae dropped John and Antonio at the beach and left.

While John and Antonio were drinking, three of John’s friends approached and John allegedly told Antonio the men were his uncles.

Antonio then shared some of his drinks and food with them.

Between 7:30pm and 8:30pm, John and two of his friends allegedly attacked Antonio from behind by striking him on the head with an iron rod and continued the assault until they killed him.

Police further allege that John and his friends left Antonio’s body at the beach and fled, and later returned to hide the body.

On March 6, Antonio’s family lodged a missing person’s report with the police and John was arrested the same day.

John cooperated with the police and took them to where Antonio’s body had been left.