Concerns raised over deaths

By HEZRON KISING
MANY lives have been lost over unnecessary things that people, especially family members, argue and kill each other over, says senior magistrate Tera Dawai.
Dawai made the remarks when sentencing a man to four months in prison in Lae on Wednesday.
Garry Ase, in his mid-30s from Menyamya in Morobe, was found guilty of having in his possession two weapons, a 30cm knife and a home-made gun.
The court heard that Ase on June 19 had an argument with his uncle regarding a death in the family. He got angry and armed himself with the weapons and police were called to arrest him at 5mile, outside Lae.
When the police officers arrived at the scene, Ase fled. He was later arrested when trying to evade police who were calling him to surrender.
The police report stated that Ase had a gun and a knife when apprehended.
Ase in his oral submission to the court said: “I was very angry with my uncle about the death of one of my brothers and I did what I did.
“I was under a lot of pressure from my family and took the matter into my own hands.”
Magistrate Dawai told Ase and the court that it was normal for people to have arguments with other family members.
“But to arm yourself with dangerous weapons like knives and guns is totally wrong,” Dawai said.
“There a lot of cases reported about family members killing each other by accident over little arguments such as your case.
“We have law and order organisations in place that can help you in such situations, like your community leaders and police.
“Do not take the law into your own hands.”