Father gets death penalty for murder of boy, 14

A father of three has been given the death penalty after being convicted of killing a 14-year-old boy in a revenge attack in West New Britain three years ago.
In the the National Court in Kimbe, acting Judge Nicholas Miviri described the killing by Wesley Yanduo as “merciless and horrific”.
“West New Britain and Kimbe is riddled with killings as if there is no rule of law and sanctity of lives even though it is predominately a Christian province,” Miviri said.
“The court will not downplay nor will it pass this as an ordinary case. Rather, the act and circumstances are extreme and call for a stern deterrent and decisive sentence that is enough.
“It is a brutal killing committed in cold blood upon an innocent, defenceless 14-year-old boy. A very sharp knife was used and this is not the first time the veracity of this weapon was used against a helpless young boy.”
The court on Oct 18 had convicted Yanduo, from Kubalia, East Sepik, for the wilful murder of Naegel John Las at Galai Oil Palm settlement on Dec 6, 2015.
Yanduo first cut the victim on the wrist then continued cutting him on the head, causing him to bleed to death.
The court heard that Yanduo attacked Las in retaliation to the fatal assault of a youth by the name of Issac Vitalis, who was attacked by boys from Section 16.
Afterwards, a meeting was held for compensation to be paid to the relatives, but when the compensation was not paid, a fight started.
Las and others were escaping when he was ambushed by Yanduo, who was hiding in bushes.
“It would appear that he laid in ambush ready as they came,” Justice Miviri said. “He (Yanduo) tried correcting another criminal wrong with another authored by him. Two wrongs do not make a right.”