"Village Plot " T Kill Emanuel

East New Britain District Commissioner Jack Emanuel, 52, was murdered on August 19 as a result of a plot hatched at secret village meetings several days beforehand, Rabaul District Court was told in October when evidence was heard against 21 Tolai men charged with Emanuel’s murder. At the end of the 10-day hearing 14 went for trial with seven discharged.

The court was told Emanuel was stabbed to death with a wartime Japanese bayonet as he walked along a path at Kabaira Plantation with a village man, William Taupa, who acted as decoy. The killing was allegedly done by Anton Tovaliria, 24, who in a pre-arranged plan ran up behind the District Commissioner and plunged the bayonet into the right side of his chest. Other villagers were hidden in the bush, some allegedly to assist in the actual killing if Tovaliria wasn’t up to it, and others to prevent possible in terference from nearby police. The police were stoned by the villagers when the body was discovered.

There was a long-standing dispute over the Kabaira land, which is owned by Plantation Holdings Ltd. One defendant allegedly said villagers had decided the killing of a European would draw attention to their case for ownership. Other names had been on the death list besides Emanuel’s. It was also claimed during the hearing that instructions for the killing had come from the Mataungan Association.

Those committed are Toviliria, Taupa, Alois Titi, Tolucas Toguna, Francis Tokarat, Tomano Tovolo Tovurie, Aron Toliplip, Toleklius Topait, Joseph Tovuvu, Clement Vavaula, Thomas Topainuk, Joseph Tomarum, Otto Kaliop and Thomas Togogol.