Man escapes jail after stabbing victim with broken bottle

By BEVERLY PETER
A 21-YEAR-OLD man escaped a custodial sentence when the National Court placed him on a year’s good behaviour bond for stabbing a man in the neck with broken bottle.
Justice George Manuhu, in sentencing Jimmy Erevu, from Mareke village in Kikori, Gulf, said: “Drunk fights have led to bigger problems such as death, loss of properties and marriage problems in our society.
“People must be responsible with their actions when consuming alcohol.”
Justice Manuhu jailed Erevu three years for causing grievous bodily harm, then deducted one-year seven months spent in custody and exercised his discretion to suspend the remaining one year five months and placed him on good behaviour bond.
On April 3, last year, Erevu stabbed the victim with a broken bottle on his neck after the victim punched him.
The incident happened in the night when both men were under the influence of alcohol.
Justice Manuhu said: “I also considered that the victim was then a University of Papua New Guinea student doing bachelor in accounting and dropped out due to the injuries.
“This has not only affected his education but also his life in the long run with his family.”
He said he understood that Erevu retaliated to a punch but Erevu should have punched him back with his bare hands, instead of using a broken bottle.
“This resulted in a serious injury,” he said.
“Victim in this case should also be blamed as he escalated the problem.
“We do not intend to increase the number of prisoners in Bomana prison which is overcrowded.”