POLICE in Malaita Province have arrested a male suspect in his 20s for a double murder incident that took place at the Manu area in East Fataleka, Malaita Province, this week.
The double murder took place on Monday at around 6pm when the suspect from Aisimae village used a bush knife to kill two brothers from nearby Gagalu village.
The suspect was under the influence of liquor when he committed the brutal murder.
The incident occurred when two deceased and the suspect were unloading timber for the Housing Scheme Project of the Fataleka Constituency.
According to the Malaita Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Superintendent Leslie Kili, the suspect and the two deceased travelled in the same vehicle to load timbers from the bush.
PPC Kili said the murder incident occurred upon their return when they were unloading timbers from the vehicle.
He added that the suspect attacked a first person but that person escaped the knife attack unharmed.
The suspect then turned on the person next to him, a 26-year-old man, and struck him with the knife, wounding his tummy and the victim died immediately.
Mr Kili said the suspect attempted to escape when the 17-year-old brother of the deceased and the man who escaped the first knife attack unharmed ran after him to question him why he acted the way he did since they are blood relatives.
The suspect responded by striking the 17-year-old boy in the neck.
Attempts to save the teenager’s life by rushing him to a nearby clinic were unsuccessful as he died on the way.
The murder shook the inhabitants of Manu area and those of the whole Fataleka region as the deceased and suspect are from the same tribe.
It was however revealed that the murder followed a disagreement over land.
The suspect was since handed over to Malu’u Police Station where he was kept for a day before being transported to Auki on Tuesday.
The suspect is currently on remand at the Auki Correctional Centre (ACC) awaiting his court appearance.
By WILSON SAENI in Auki
