Jailed for 30 years, families reconcile

THE family of a man sent to jail for 30 years for the wilful murder of a cousin over alleged sorcery practice reconciled with the family of the deceased and appealed  for a reconsideration of his sentence.
The Lae National Court had found Thomas Samuli guilty of the wilful murder over his first cousin Jonny Yupe and jailed him last week.
The incident occurred at Sibi village in Wain-Erap, Nawaeb in 2013.
Families of Samuli and Yupe, including Yupe’s widow Muyaging and sorcery suspects gathered last Saturday and reconciled to restore peace among families and their communities.
Samuli’s family killed four pigs and provided garden food for feasting and gave more than  K5000 to respective families and the communities to restore peace.
Congregation pastor Sambusi Zurene, community leader Pandi Nowatu and women representative Tikeleng Nowaro read and presented three letters of appeal to  Samuli’s arresting officer Dick Siniwin.
Morobe rural patrol unit coordinator Chief Insp David Warap said that such a ceremony should have been held during trial to convince the court of a reconciliation and perhaps a lighter sentence.
“They can seek advice from lawyers or the public solicitor and appeal in Supreme Court to review the decision because court had made its decision to give him 30 years imprisonment,” Warap said.