Man jailed for 12 years for biological father’s death

National

By ROSELYN ELLISON
THE National Court in East New Britain has jailed a 21-year-old man for 12 years after finding him guilty of causing the death of his father.
The court heard that they had an argument at home and the son picked up a piece of wood and threw it at his father, hitting him on the back.
The father fell down in pain and was rushed to hospital but died on the way.
Two years and two weeks were deducted from Topolo Bernard’s sentence for the time spent in custody.
He will serve nine years, 11 months and two weeks.
Acting Judge David Susame heard that Bernard and his biological father Bernard Tokau had an argument at their home at Chopper Block in the inland Baining local level government of Gazelle district on May 24, 2017 at about 10am.
The argument was over his sister spending much time with her boyfriend and less time helping with family chores. The son picked up a piece of wood and threw it at his father, hitting him on his back.
The father fell down screaming in pain and was lying on the ground until one of the bystanders got a vehicle and took him to the hospital.
The man died on the way.
The medical report said the father died of haemorrhagic shock due to ruptured spleen.
When handing down the decision on Thursday, Justice Susame told the Bernard that the maximum penalty offence for manslaughter was life sentence.
Justice Susame said the court had the discretion to impose a sentence other than the maximum by exercising it’s powers.
“In the present case, death was accelerated by rupture of an enlarged spleen.
“No dangerous weapon was used except an object was thrown deliberately at the deceased, hitting him on the left abdomen where the spleen is located,” Justice Susame said.