A MAN who killed his nine-day-old adopted baby by eating it alive made a brief appearance in the Waigani National Court to obtain his trial date, The National reports.
Rex Timoku Paijawi yesterday appeared in court neatly dressed in a pair of long, black trousers, a sky-blue long sleeved shirt, with a tie and shoes.
Paijawi could hardly be recognised as the hand-cuffed person with the ‘deathly look’ when he first appeared at the Waigani Committal Court in May.
Paijawi, 35, from Purani Village, Hela, is charged with wilful murder after allegedly biting off the infant’s head on Feb 3 at the Wanbin settlement in Tabubil, Western.
Police had alleged witchcraft, cannibalism and insanity against him.
However, yesterday he appeared a different man, apparently due to psychiatric help.
When the judge called him, he responded by standing up and saying “yes your honour” on what the court had put to him.
He seemed to have a clear conscience.
He was seen talking to other people on remand in court and seemed to smile at them.
Yesterday, the state lawyer told the court that pre-trial statements of the matter were not ready because reports from the psychiatric hospital had yet to be obtained.
The court was told that the report had been requested for and would be made available soon.
Justice Panuel Mogish set the next hearing date for Dec 12.