Man gets 15 years to deter others committing similar crime

 By ADRIAN MATHIAS

A MAN who killed another by hitting him on the head with a firewood has been jailed for 15 years.

Justice Panuel Mogish told Jeffrey Taima during a National Court sitting in Kwikila, Central, he must be punished as a deterrence to others.

Mogish said Taima failed to provide the court any exceptional circumstances to warrant a suspended sentence.

“The aggravating circumstances far outweigh the mitigating factors such as his lack of prior conviction or that he was a married man,” Mogish said in a written ruling.

He said the killing happened on March 6, 2010 at Manabo Block 156 in Moreguina, Central.

The court heard that Taima hit a man lying face down on the ground with a firewood.

Taima had told the court he did it to protect a Anthony Mera from the deceased during a fight.

Mogish said he found the explanation credible and the doctor’s report on the nature of injuries sustained to the body inferred that a number of people were involved in assaulting the victim.

He said, however, he must punish Taima for his conduct. 

He said Taima should not be made to pay the penalty for others who were yet to be convicted. 

“A death has occurred and the offender must be punished as a form of deterrence,” the judge said.