Late Rosalyn Albaniel Evara

Coroner’s inquest into Albaniel’s death starts

The inquest is to determine the cause of death of the Business Editor, who was allegedly subject to domestic violence by her husband.

Police prosecutors handing the inquest indicated 23 witnesses were identified from police investigations that were compiled from the autopsy.

The autopsy was conducted by lead pathologist of Port Moresby General Hospital Dr Seth Fose, 10 days after Albaniel’s passing. 

She died on October 15 last year after a short illness. 

Brief on Evara’s death compiled: N’Dranou

NCD metropolitan superintendent, Perou N’Dranou, said he had received a brief from homicide stating that they have now compiled everything and are prepared to put a handout brief to the coroner.

“It will be given to the coroner to make a decision whether to continue the investigation or not,” N’Dranou said.

The PC business editor died on the 15th of October, 2017.

An investigation into her death started when revelations of continuous abuse surfaced at her funeral on October 25.

She is survived by a daughter and husband.

Chief pathologist on Evara’s autopsy result

Chief pathologist, Dr. Seth Fose, made the statement following recent criticism over the autopsy outcome of late veteran journalist, Rosalyn Albaniel Evara.

Despite widespread public belief that gender-based violence was the main contributor to Evara’s passing, preliminary autopsy reports proved otherwise.

“Embalming and decomposition distort evidence of injuries, trauma and disease processes both externally and internally,” explains Dr Fose.

The chief pathologist further clarifies that:

Late Evara’s case still under investigation

Her body had undergone an autopsy on October 25, after her death on the 15th. The examination was conducted by the chief pathologist of the PNG health department.

Police homicide say there is little hope of favourable results pointing to murder in this case, considering the body of the deceased had gone through different processes, including embalmment. However they will be patient for the full report to come through.

Police suspect GBV in women's deaths

According to the homicide unit, four women have lost their lives after allegedly suffering beatings.

Homicide says the late journalist Rosalyn Albaniel Evara’s death was one of these cases that was under investigation. This follows her post mortem on Wednesday (October 25) and burial on Friday.

The other three women, who were all identified to be in their early 30’s, were from East Sepik, Wabag and Simbu provinces respectively.

Work together, end domestic violence: Baki

Police Commissioner Gari Baki made this comment following the death of Post-Courier’s senior journalist, Rosalyn Albaniel Evara, allegedly from injuries sustained from domestic violence.

“Family, friends and colleagues and even strangers cannot turn a blind eye to domestic violence any longer. They have a duty to intervene and take action,” he says.

“Every member of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary is also duty bound to take action. Domestic violence is no longer a ‘family issue’. It is a criminal act and perpetrators can and must be prosecuted.

PNG demonised by domestic violence

Speaking at the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry business breakfast, NCD Governor Powes Parkop said the explicit occurrences of violence against women has created a very bad perception of PNG.

He highlighted recent events which have further added to this perception.

In his address to the chamber members this morning, Parkop highlighted the recent death of Post-Courier journalist, Late Rosalyn Albaniel-Evara, allegedly at the hands of her husband; another tragic tale in the never ending story of atrocities against local women by PNG men.

Late Evara’s autopsy completed

It started at around 12:38pm today and ended at 1.39pm.

This officially kick-starts investigations into the cause of death of the late senior journalist.

Homicide detective, Sergeant Nei Pige, says a report of the post mortem will be provided to the homicide office.

It will take at least another week or two, depending on the doctor, to provide the full report on the findings.

Media council calls for investigation

While the Council respected the wishes of her immediate family to proceed with her burial, it acknowledges that the pain that Late Rosalyn had to endure is no longer just hers, and a pain that many more women in the country may be going through every day.

“To the media fraternity, the call for justice is no longer Rosalyn’s alone. It has happened to one of our own, and it is time to acknowledge, that it needs to stop,” says the Council.