Judge: Drunkards to face longer jail terms

 By ADRIAN MATHIAS

PEOPLE who commit murder and other heinous crimes while under the influence of alcohol will face long jail terms, a judge said.

Justice Panuel Mogish sentenced Teina Kaupa to 17 years in jail for killing his brother in-law Jeffrey Kumo at Newton Settlement in Konedobu, Port Moresby, on Dec 5, 2010.

Mogish said attacks where the consumption of alcohol was involved had become prevalent in our society and required tough and strong deterrent sentences.

He took into account that Kaupa had no prior conviction, had four children and had paid K3,500 as compensation to the relatives and family of Kumo.

“Drunkards are warned that if they stab someone during a fight, they will be sentenced to jail for a long time,” he said. 

“And if they are fathers, it is too late to talk about the welfare of their children. 

“Of course the children will suffer the temporary absence of their father but that is the inevitable consequence for which the offender is to be blamed. 

“For the children and wife of the deceased their loss is permanent and that too is an aggravating factor.”

Mogish told Kaupa: “On Dec 5, 2010 around 8pm you went to the residence of your younger sister Ganga Kaupa and her husband Jeffrey Kumo located at Newton Settlement, Konedobu, Port Moresby. At the time you were intoxicated. Upon reaching your sister’s residence, you confronted the victim and demanded money from him. He told you he had no money. You became angry and pushed him. You then pulled a knife and stabbed him under his left arm pit. You left the scene of the crime. The victim was rushed to the hospital but died as a result of loss of blood.”

Mogish said a sentence of 17 years imprisonment was appropriate, saying it was not the worst type of murder.

He deducted two years five months and six days for the time spent in custody.

Kaupa will serve 14 years, six months three weeks and one day at Bomana Prison outside Port Moresby.