End of death penalty

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE Government is doing away with the death penalty, in keeping with the Bible’s “thou shall not kill” commandment, and will commute those currently on death row to life sentences without parole.
Prime Minister James Marape told members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church holding their 33rd synod in Port Moresby that PNG was a Christian nation and the death penalty was out of place.
“The Bible says thou shall not kill and the Government has removed, by policy, the clause on the death penalty,” he said.
“We are working on giving the maximum penalty to those who commit an offence and sentenced to death.
“They will now receive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
“This is the path we are taking and we are starting to ensure that the country lives the ideals of Christianity.”
The total number of people on death row in prisons around country could not be confirmed yesterday. But Correctional Services Commissioner Stephen Pokanis told The National that 14 were in Bomana Prison in Port Moresby.
It is understood there were 15 prisoners on death row there, but one escaped during the Repentance Day breakout last year.
He is Emax Goasa, who is still on the run.
It is understood that there are six on death row in Kerevat Prison in East New Britain.
The numbers in other prisons were not made available to The National.
Justice Minister Bryan Kramer last year told The National that the death penalty would be reviewed and research would be done into whether it had resulted in the reduction or prevention of serious crimes.
Father and son Selam and Misialis Amos, who were on death row for sea piracy, were found not guilty in 2017 in East New Britain and released.
The father and son were charged in 2011.