The 33-year-old man was believed to have been a former member of the Black Sharks, a break-away group of the Bouganvillian Revolutionary Army.

Police believe that the Black Sharks were responsible for murdering a 19-year-old male from Malaita at a workshop at KHY in Gizo on 11 June 2000.

Police will allege that the 33-year-old man was with a group of Black Sharks members and associates armed with high powered rifles that entered the KHY workshop where the 19-year-old and his friends were sleeping. It is alleged the friends were seriously assaulted and the 19-year-old was fatally shot.

In 2005, another man was charged for the same murder. He was convicted by the High Court and sentenced to life imprisonment in early 2006.

Police made the new arrest on Wednesday (3 September) at the Plaza Shopping Centre in Honiara after information was received that a man wanted for his involvement in the murder was there.

The 33-year-old was interviewed and charged by detectives from the Serious Crime Squad on Thursday (4 September). He appeared in court on Friday 5 September 2008 for a bail application and was remanded in custody.

He is expected to reappear in the High Court on 19 September 2008.


Press Release (Police Media Unit)