​Verdict soon on Pokea murder case

The Waigani National Court has reserved its decision to this Wednesday after submissions on verdict were made today in the murder trial against Billy Sapsi Pokea.

Pokea is the man who is accused to have murdered former diplomat, the late Dennis Taylor Bebego, on July 5, 2014, at the Department of Foreign Affairs office at Waigani.

A trial was conducted last Friday which saw three state witness give evidence in court on the alleged murder. Pokea was the only defense witness who gave evidence.

The matter returned this morning before Justice Nicholas Kirriwom, where submissions were made by state lawyers and his lawyer based on the evidence that was presented during the trial.

Pokea of Suma village, Mendi, Southern Highlands Province, denied committing the offence. He said he went to Eight-Mile after work on Saturday and fell ill after drinking all night.

He also denied leaving the office that day to buy a bush knife to murder the late Bebego.

He was arrested by police on 10 July, 2014, at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

He told the trial judge and the court on Friday that police officers and those from the office of Foreign Affairs corroborated and framed the record of interview, just because one of the witnesses gave his story earlier to police on the day of the incident.

It is alleged that the accused killed Bebego in his office using a bush knife after he was caught watching pornography at his work station.

 He fled the office soon after and Bebego’s body was found lying in a pool of blood by colleagues.

(File pic)

Author: 
Sally Pokiton