A policeman in Kimbe was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison for the death of a known criminal.
29-year-old Darryl Yakali from Avatip in the Ambunti-Drekikier District of East Sepik Province was convicted on the charge of murder on the 22nd of August, 2022.
The National Court in Kimbe heard that on 25th June 2020, Yakali and other policemen went searching for Dale Benny at Section 15 Area.
Between 4:30 pm-5 pm, they saw Benny Torua, Dale Benny’s father. Yakali spoke to Benny and told him to bring his son to the police station the next day with K500. Soon after, gunshots were heard around that same area. Dale Benny was shot and injured and taken to the hospital. He later died that evening.
Yakali had pleaded not guilty but admitted to shooting Dale Benny in the defence of self-accident. However, the court found that there was no evidence to support Yakali’s belief.
From the post-mortem report submitted in court as evidence, Dale Benny sustained fractures to his left and right lower bones in the leg (tibia) and both his artery had been severed.
Yakali also argued that the deceased was listed in the most dangerous person category of the Kimbe Police.
Dale Benny was said to be involved in an armed robbery at Biala and was arrested on 19th August 2019. However, while in police custody, he escaped through the cell ceiling. Whilst on the run, Benny was said to have broken into JJ Mart in Kimbe Town and Yakali was tasked as the case offer to that case.
Benny was also said to have had countless cases of phones and bilums snatching and attempts to catch him were unsuccessful because he was harboured by his community.
Justice Panuel Mogish in his judgement said, despite the deceased being a Person of Interest to the Police, he was entitled to the full protection of the law.
“The offender was a policeman at the time of the offence. He held a position of trust to the community he served and that was to protect life and property. He abused that trust when he killed the deceased,” said Mogish.
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