2 charged in Papua New Guinea 'witch' killing

SYDNEY -- Police in Papua New Guinea have charged two people with the grisly killing of a woman who was accused of witchcraft and burned alive in front of hundreds of people.

Police on Monday charged Janet Ware and Andrew Watea with murder in the death of Kepari Leniata. Leniata was stripped, tortured with a hot iron rod, doused in gasoline and set alight on a pile of car tires and trash by a mob earlier this month.

Leniata had been accused of sorcery by relatives of a 6-year-old boy who had recently died in a hospital. Police said Ware and Watea are believed to be the boy's mother and uncle.

The brutal killing sparked outrage across the South Pacific island nation.

Murder is punishable by death in Papua New Guinea. (AP)