A MOTHER accused along with her son of killing her husband, a policeman in Kaugere, Port Moresby, three years ago has been freed by a court.
Emotional Anna Punai, from Bayung village in Morobe’s Bulolo, broke down in tears yesterday in the dock when National Court Judge Panuel Mogish discharged her from the murder charge against her husband, late Senior Sergeant Jim Punai.
Outside court, Punai was emotional, hugging family members, thankful that her three-year court battle appealing her charge had ended.
Mogish told Anna: ‘there is a declaration from the Office of Public Prosecution to the court to discharge you from the charges of murder.”
“You are discharged and free to go,” he said.
Lawyer Edward Sasingian represented Punai.
Outside court, Punai told The National that she was a victim of injustice following her husband’s death.
“I was blamed for nothing by his relatives and by his workmates from the police force because I was the deceased’s wife,” she said.
“Now after three years of the court battles, I have been given justice by the Public Prosecutor and state lawyers and the courts.
“I want to thank my boss and Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko and my family for believing me and supporting me throughout.” Sasingian confirmed that Anna Punai’s son, Adam, who has mental illness and accused of striking his father with an iron rod causing the death, is institutionalised at the Laloki Psychiatrist Hospital.
The court heard that the late Senior Sgt Punai was drunk and sleeping inside his vehicle in front of his house.
Adam Punai had been brought home by an aunt and allegedly told his mother Anna that he wanted to smoke (marijuana).
Adam’s brother Emmanuel advised his mother to retrieve what the son had asked for and she went into the house to get it.
After that, Anna woke her husband and an argument ensued between Adam and his father.
Adam allegedly picked up a rock and attempted to hit his father with it, but missed.
Adam was then able to get an iron bar from his brother and struck his father twice on the head causing his death.
An uncle tried to stop Adam but he was also hit with the rod and chased out of the premises.