Medical Report to Confirm Cause of Death
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
THE ROYAL Solomon Island Police Force is yet to confirm the cause of death of the 7-year old girl in Kolombangara, Western Province.
Assistance Police Commissioner, Patricia Leta, however, confirmed that two suspects have been remanded for 14 days in relation to the suspicious death.
“Two suspects in their 30s have been remanded for 14 days in relation to the suspicious death of the 7-year old girl,” she said during a police media conference yesterday.
This 14 days according to the acting commissioner is for the DPP to make an opinion on the appropriate charge and it is lawful that the court is the one to consider specifics of the 14 days imprisonment.
She said that both suspects are from Malaita province however both still remain innocent until proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Acting Commissioner Leta told local media at the Rove police headquarters today that their officers from Ringi and Poitete are currently dealing with the case.
“Initial reports stated that the deceased told her elder sibling on their way home after school that she was hungry and run ahead to their village,’’ the acting commissioner revealed.
“She reaches a sub turning at the road where her other siblings couldn’t able to see her. Nevertheless, when the siblings arrived at their village they uncovered that the deceased have not arrived,’’ she said.
“That is when they alert their parents and started their missing person search,’’ she said during the 34th police media conference today.
“A day had passed with no sign of the deceased until the next day 16 October as the search had continued, they find her school bag, uniforms, and slippers hidden inside a root of a tree,’’ she said.
The acting commissioner said that the deceased was found mid-morning on 18-October three days before she was gone missing. The body was discovered in a creek.
“Any linkage to suspects on how many had involved will be determined from the continuous investigation. At the moment only two are implicated,” she assured.
“I want to express my condolences to the family of the little girl where she lost her life.
“Now the investigation into the matter is continuing and police will make sure responsible people must face justice for their actions,’’ said Leta.
She urges parents to look and take good care of the little ones especially females who have been seen as victims of such a sad incident.
“Because children at this age cannot protect themselves thus they must be accompanied by adults at all times,” said the acting commissioner.
