A man in his late 40s was murdered in front of more than 500 people on Thursday 22nd of December 2022, during a soccer match at Naru Primary School in Madang Province.
This newsroom visited the site along Bruce Jepchot Highway with police officers and confirmed the deceased as Newman James from ward 16, Waput village of Usino-Bundi Usino LLG.
According to information gathered at the crime scene, it was alleged that the suspect who was under the influence of liquor went with his friends to the grandstand where the tournament officials were and cut the decoration at the grandstand. While doing that, James, who was in the field walked towards the suspect.
Before he climbed up the grandstand, the suspect who was up on the grandstand stabbed the victim with a knife that penetrated his chest.
The people who witnessed the incident said they saw the victim fall on the ground and died instantly.
Homicide police in Madang and officers from Walium arrived at the scene and took the body to Waput village then to Modilon Hospital morgue.
Police officers have urged the people of Naru to assist in apprehending the suspect and hand him over.
First Constable Elute Saipe from the Madang Homicide squad told the people that the incident happened in broad daylight and many people had seen what had happened.
He said witnesses can travel to Madang at any time and give witness statements.
Madang Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent David Seine after a briefing called on the people who are organizing festive season games to take responsibility for any law and order problems.