The man who was arrested by police in Port Moresby on allegations he shot a policeman from the Koki Cop Shop while attempting to remove bullets from a gun has been allowed bail by the court.
Lobo Berua from Wanigella in the National Capital District and his lawyer went before the Waigani National Court with a bail application which was granted to him at K1,000 today.
Berua was arrested by police late in Dec of 2016 and charged for the murder of Stanley Kapa on Dec 16, 2016.
Kapa was a policeman at the Koki Cop Shop. On the day the alleged "accident" shooting incident took place, a suspect was brought to the Cop Shop after he was suspected for being in possession of a home-made pistol.
The deceased cop took the loaded home- made pistol off the suspect to remove the bullets from the gun barrel. Unable to do so, Berua was asked to assist him however in the process of the bullets being removed; the gun discharged killing the officer.
Berua’s lawyer told the court that he was just a betelnut vendor selling betel nut who was asked to assist the cop.
The judge without hesitation accorded bail to Berua saying the state has no legal defense in this case. Even the police brief facts before the court considered the incident an accident.
State made no objection to bail and was also told to review the defendant’s file.
Berua first appeared at the District court on Jan 25,2017 at Bomana. His next committal court mention is on Feb 22.