Guards gets six years for murder

THE National Court in Waigani has jailed a man for six years for the murder of another three years ago.
Colin Dowaia was sentenced by Justice Salatiel Lenalia on Wednesday.
While handing down his decision, Lenalia noted that this was a case where Dowaia saw a speeding vehicle and thinking that it was stolen, or had been involved in some form of trouble, shot at it with the intention of flattening the tyres to stop it.
“Dowaia and his colleagues security personnel of the company had heard the shouts of ‘kilim em, kilim em’ (kill him, kill him) so he acted on the spur of the moment and fired a shot at the speeding vehicle,” the court heard.
Lenalia said that sentencing for murder cases had increased because there was a prevalence of the crime in PNG.
He said because of this, the term of 12 years was an appropriate sentence to impose on Dowaia.
However, the court suspended three years from the total sentence with condition that he stayed out of trouble for two years.
The pre-trial custody period of three years was also deducted, so Dowaia would only serve six years.
Lenalia took into account his pre-sentencing report and his personal background, including his commitment to have his employer pay a K10,000 compensation to the victim’s relatives.
“I consider the fact that there was no premeditation and planning on the part of the prisoner to take away the life of the victim. There was no intention to harm anyone.
“The shooting in this instant was truly a mistake,” he said, adding that the penalty prescribed for murder was life imprisonment, pursuant to section 300 of the Criminal Code.
Dowaia was found guilty on one count of murder on June 23 last year.
Lenalia said that initially, Dowaia was charged with wilful murder but it was reduced to murder.