Ex-league chairman gets 12yrs

By TREVOR WAHUNE
Former rugby league chairman Billy Aki has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for killing his wife Loisa Aki on Dec 26, 2015.
Justice George Manuhu, in his decision yesterday, said Aki was charged with manslaughter which carried a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The court refused an appeal by Aki for a good behaviour bond because to do so would mean the life of his late wife would be “meaningless”.
“A life has been lost,” Justice Manuhu said.
“It is impossible to impose a good behaviour bond.”
The court found that at the time of the offence, Aki was the National Capital District Suburban Rugby League chairman, and was officiating at Morata rugby league games during the Christmas period at Kone Tigers Oval.
He had set up a bar at the grandstand where his wife was selling beer.
The accused was also drinking beer during the games.
After the day’s games ended at around 6pm, the husband and wife went up on the grandstand.
Loisa Aki called out to her friend Christina Obeni (who testified as a witness) to buy her some betel nuts and cigarettes.
When Obeni got to where her friend was, she saw Aki punch her, which caused her to fall on the floor of the grandstand in pain.
Obeni asked Aki what she had done to be hit by him.
Aki then lifted her and threw her down to the second landing of the stairs that led to the grandstand.
He then walked down the steps and threw her down to the ground.
The court found that while the deceased was on the ground, Aki continued to assault her by hitting the right side of her head using a 4×4 timber.
Loisa fell unconscious and could not be awakened.
Aki then placed her in the back tray of his car and drove his wife home and left her without medical attention until Dec 28.
He took her to Gerehu clinic, now general hospital, but was referred to Port Moresby General Hospital where she was admitted.
She received medical treatment for three days before she died on Dec 31 of blunt force trauma.
Aki, 39, comes from Tambul in Western Highlands, and has three wives, including the deceased.
The court deducted two years, six months, and five days from his sentence for time spent in custody awaiting court and trial.
Aki will serve the remaining nine years five months, and 26 days.