Man jailed 15 years for attempted murder

By SCHOLAR KASSAS
A 29-YEAR-OLD man was jailed 15 years by the National Court in Waigani for attempted murder about two years ago.
Justice George Manuhu, on Friday, told Misiel Yapato, from Enga’s Suri village, he appeared to be a threat to society.
“You had a prior conviction in 2013 to 2015 in Mt Hagen and four years after, you committed another crime,” he told Yapato.
“When we jail people, we expect them to change, but when you commit another offence a second time, we will not treat you as a first offender.
“You will be serving a longer sentence.”
Justice Manuhu deducted two years, seven months and two weeks served in custody from the sentenced.
On April 13, 2019, between noon and 2pm in Port Moresby’s Gerehu, Yapato grabbed an iron handle axe and went to Kelly Pupun’s house and cut him on his forehead, nose and chin while he was sleeping in the backyard.
After cutting the victim, Yapato fled with the axe.
Policemen in a patrol car, saw Yapato with the blood-stained axe with the public chasing him.
He was then caught and brought to the Gerehu Police Station and later to the Boroko Police Station where he was arrested and charged.
Justice Manuhu said the maximum penalty for the offence was life imprisonment but Yapato pleaded guilty and saved the court’s time.