Two men charged with the murder of Filipino migrant worker in Kosrae

By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press

April 25, 2023

Kosrae—Two men have been arrested and charged in Kosrae for the murder of Geovani Ogurida, a long-time migrant worker from the Philippines murdered in the early morning hours of April 6, 2023, in the home where he was staying in Srungansralu, Lelu Municipality.

According to the sworn affidavit of Detective Thomas Charley of the Kosrae Police Department, at around 10:00 on the morning of April 6, he, along with several other officers, responded to a call from Mrs. Sepe Obeth. Obeth had told the police that Ogurida had been tied up and was lying on the ground in his room. “Upon my arrival at the incident scene, the deceased subject was laying there motionless, facial – nose and mouth were tied up with pieces of clothes and I can hardly identify the deceased subject at the time,” Charley’s affidavit said.

After conducting an investigation and gathering facts on the matter, Kosrae Police Officers arrested Marcus Jr M. Nena of Tofol, Lelu Municipality. According to the affidavit, Nena voluntarily and in writing, waived his rights. On questioning, he confessed to the crime, and in his written confession also said that it was carried out by him and Defendant Kiosi Hadley.

On April 8, prosecutors of Kosrae’s Office of the Attorney General filed charges, accusing the two men of a total of seven criminal charges. The first of the charges was for criminal trespass for allegedly entering Ogurida’s residence at approximately 1:40 in the morning. The second was for aggravated assault for allegedly beating the victim with a dangerous weapon. The third charge was for voluntary manslaughter for “taking the life of another human being, namely Geovani Ogurida, by tying up his legs and covering up his mouth and nose and beating, hitting, and kicking him…” causing his death. The fourth charge was for murder which involves “malice aforethought” or premeditation in the killing. The fifth charge was for burglary. They were also charged with burglary for allegedly stealing Ogurida’s personal property with the intent to convert it to one’s personal use. The final charge was assault and battery.

Nena and Hadley are presumed innocent unless the prosecution proves in court beyond a shadow of a doubt that they committed the crimes of which they are accused.