Killer jailed for life

The National Main Stories

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
A JUDGE yesterday sentenced a man who killed his father-in-law to life imprisonment, saying he deserved to be put in a “secluded place where you stay until you die”.
Waigani National Court judge Justice Danajo Koeget sentenced Russel Tom, 25, from Bavi village in Kikori, Gulf, for the wilful murder of Jack Morobai, at Port Moresby’s Koki fish market on June 25, 2018.
It was over the money Tom had demanded from the family to buy drinks during a State of Origin night at the family home in Hohola. He had wanted K50 but because there was no change, he was given K100 and told to bring back the K50 change.
Tom drank the whole night and when asked the next morning about the K50 change, he started a fight.
Morobai punched Tom before leaving with family members to sell crabs at Koki market.
Tom bought a knife and looked around for Morobai. He could not find him at home. He then followed Morobai to Koki and found him sleeping underneath a table.
Tom slashed him to death before surrendering himself to police at Koki.
Justice Koeget said the saddest part was that Morobai “never knew who attacked him and killed him”.
He told Tom: “You were drunk when you committed this offence.
“You must be held responsible for the wrong you did even when you are intoxicated.
“One wonders if you’re insane.
“You are a danger to the community at Hohola and in your own village as well.”
Justice Koeget described Tom’s behaviour as savage, violent and primitive, adding that he had no respect for human life.
“People with such belief should not be living with peace-abiding people,” he said.
“You should be placed in a secluded place, where you stay until you die.” Justice Koeget said the maximum penalty for the offence was death.
“You can be hanged until you die in front of your mother, father and siblings,” he said.
“In some countries, they put (people like you) in an electric chair, switch the power on and they’re dead.
“You are fit to be a candidate in that category.”
But Justice Koeget declined to impose the death penalty saying only God had the right to give and take away life.
“I will now impose the next serious penalty,” he said.
“You are sentenced to life and you will serve your sentence at the Bomana Correctional Institution.”
He took into account the mitigating factors that Tom was a first offender, had surrendered to police and pleaded guilty.

10 comments

  • It is saddening to hear and see people getting so violent over very simple things which can be sorted in a more peaceful process with the the respect of a human life and safety of others should always be our priority. Youths of this generation has gone spirally different in their mentality and general attitude is all negative. Justice Koeget, Iam pleased with your decision as the accused have no place in PNG. The Marape Steven government have to find a better location to house such violent people so no relatives can have access visiting them. I suggest that the government finds an isolated island and develop it into a prision for such violent people can enjoy their time out there. This will also stop prisoners from escaping.

  • This is an inhumane behavior , the saddest part is that the Morobai never knew who attached him and killed him as he was sleeping . He should have some kind of respect for this person . Do we go to church and do we have Christlike love for others? I totally agree with the Judge’s decision . I feel for the family of the deceased .

  • I am very happy with your decision. Such people should not be living among the good people. such people should be removed from the good.

  • The man who has always provided food, shelter, protection through hard work of selling fish and other things. even sending to prison is wasting tax payer’s money for food and other things. just get rid of such animal

  • If he dies he will be free from pain. Let him serve life imprisonment at Bomana. In all those years the sadness, emotions, guilt, frustrations, regrets will always hurt him and give him sleepless nights. There he will wish he should be better off dead than staying alive. The families of the victim will live with sadness so the convicted too must live with the consequence of his wrong action.

  • Such inhuman as no place. He is not a lion that created by the Creater with such keen to eat human flesh.
    Human beings are are equal life and why next life like themselves can kill another one like themselves.
    This country can take revenge with what committment they perform.
    Let killer of people be persecuted accordingly.

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