THE father of a suspect in the killing at Point Cruz last April has brought his son to Honiara where he handed him over to police this week.
Pastor David Gosia of Toa’e village in West Kwaio became the first Kwaio man to have done what he did, challenging other Christians to do likewise.
“It is a very difficult thing to do, I must admit, to bring my own son. But I thank Christians who supported me in their prayers. So my own family members – all nine of us – did what was rare. We brought him and handed over our son to police in Honiara yesterday afternoon,” he said.
“I went to East Kwaio where my son who was the suspect was living with his relatives. I counselled him and told him to come with me. He agreed to come with me so we did,” Pastor Gosia said.
Now Pastor Gosia is asking police to assist with the expenses he had incurred in pursuing the matter.
“I know police made about three attempts to get my son, but they were not able to do so. I also know they spent a lot of money on allowances, but they achieved nothing.
“I am now asking police what can you do to appreciate the efforts of my family in getting my son to the police.
“Secondly, my son’s relatives who are not Christians have sworn against taking their own to the police unless there is some form of compensation is paid to them. This is important to appease them.
“Because as soon as the son arrived back in the village in April, he told all his relatives that the woman who was murdered swore at him about 11 times,” Pastor Gosia said.
“It is a very hard thing for me to say no to them. But being the law-abiding citizen that I am, I had to make a stand. I simply ask what can the police do to provide something to appease the angry relatives.
Swearing is taboo in Kwaio. This needs to be addressed.
“We do not even have a place to sleep, let alone what to eat in Honiara. I think that our own efforts should be recognised. I am asking the Commissioner of Police to take these matters into consideration,” he said.
Li Ming Chen was murdered on 13th April this year
It was a tragic death that cheated the life of the mother of two young children. Someone, it would appear, was waiting inside the backdoor of her shop, Wai Hai Enterprise Ltd at Point Cruz that fateful Tuesday morning.
As she opened the backdoor of her shop, her assailant stabbed her twice. She fell to the ground and died in a pool of blood. A CCTV footage, which police investigators had obtained of the murder scene, showed the killer kneeling over the woman’s dead body.
By Alfred Sasako
Newsroom, Honiara
