4 Jan 2012

Vanuatu police name NZ businessman's alleged killer

3:49 pm on 4 January 2012

The police in Vanuatu say the man they've charged with the intentional homicide of a New Zealand businessman is a well-known nurse in the public health system.

The deputy police commissioner, Arthur Caulton, says people saw Philip Tanaki shoot Dick Eade, a prominent vegetable grower, in the upper body at about 1pm on December the 29th following an argument over land.

Mr Caulton says police are awaiting the results of a postmortem on Mr Eade's body and Mr Tanaki will appear in court on January the 9th.

He says police understand that while the accused was working at Vila Central Hospital, he abused patients.

"What we heard from the hospital staff was that he was quite aggressive at the time but being a public servant for quite a long time, for him to do this is quite unusual."

It has been reported that Mr Eade was planning a major land sub-division and Mr Caulton says Mr Tanaki claims land he leases adjacent to Mr Eade's property belonged to his ancestors.