Joshua Kaluvia, a former Salvation Army worker at the Manus Island detention centre, had been facing trial for the wilful murder of Barati in February 2014.
Kaluvia was meant to appear in court in the town of Lorengau on Manus Island this week to continue the trial, but the court was told he had escaped from remand at the Lorengau prison.
A spokesman for PNG Correctional Services confirmed Kaluvia was missing.
“The escapee is Joshua Kaluvia from Muliagani Village in the West New Britain Province,” he said in a statement.
