Two charged in 'witch' murder in Papua New Guinea: report

PORT MORESBY (AFP) - Two people have been charged with the murder of a young mother in Papua New Guinea who was accused of being a witch and set upon by a mob that burned her alive, reports said Tuesday.

Kepari Leniata, 20, was stripped naked, doused with petrol and set alight atop a pile of rubbish on a main street on Feb 6 in the town of Mount Hagen in the Western Highlands.

Local media said a 28-year-old woman and 33-year-old man were charged with wilful murder after police rounded up 40 people for questioning.

The pair are reportedly relatives of a six-year-old boy whose death set off allegations of sorcery against Leniata.