Man jailed for 15 years

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 1st May 2013

 By ADRIAN MATHIAS

A MAN has been jailed for 15 years with hard labour for killing his wife after she admitted having an extra marital affair.

Justice Panuel Mogish, while handing down the decision last month in the National Court at Kwikila, Central, said it was an extreme case of domestic violence resulting in the tragic loss of life.

He found Koani Arua, 34, of Porebada village, Central, guilty of manslaughter.

The court was told that on March 28, 2010 at around 4am and 5am the accused was asleep when his wife arrived at the house. 

He suspected she was sleeping with another man and they argued.

The court said the accused then assaulted her on various parts of her body by using his hands, legs and a timber which resulted in the deceased sustaining injuries to various parts of her body and subsequently died from loss of blood.

Arua admitted to the court that he had hit his wife on her stomach area, her private parts, buttocks, knees, hands and head. 

When sentencing him, the judge told Arua that his case fell into the third category of manslaughter. 

Mogish said that women were not property to be assaulted at the whims of men. 

“Men must learn to respect the rights of women and refrain from resorting to violence.” 

Mogish said domestic violence was rampant in PNG communities. 

“Every day we read in the newspaper or hear on the radio or see on television of women being assaulted by men,” he said.

“Despite increased public awareness, husbands continue to assault their spouses or partners to the brink of death. This case is no exception.”