Magistrate: Do not try to solve disputes while drunk
The National, Tuesday 11th June 2013
By JUNIOR UKAHA
PEOPLE should not try to solve disputes when under the influence of alcohol, a magistrate said last Friday when fining two brothers K1,000 each for assaulting a woman and her husband in April.
Gisu and Jim Punase of Lababia village in Salamaua, Morobe, were also ordered to pay compensation to Evelyn Tony and husband Ian Palulu.
The court heard the brothers and a group of men went to the home of the couple drunk, broke bottles, swore at them and beat up Evelyn and set upon her husband when he came to rescue her.
Gisu admitted to Magistrate Nasaling Bingtau that the police account of the incident was true but Jim said some information was fabricated.
He told the court that they had assauted the couple because they failed to attend a mediation gathering.
“I find you two guilty of the offence. If there is a dispute you should have solve it properly. Assaulting people is dangerous as you can kill the complainant,” Bingtau told the brothers.
He said trying to solve drunk often worsened the problem.