Man jailed for murder

National, Normal
Source:

By JACOB POK

A 20-YEAR-old man was jailed for 20 years with hard labour by the National Court for robbery and murder in 2006.
Lukas Kolap, from Anawe village, Enga province, admitted hitting Baibal Pewaipa, 60, on the head with a hammer several times before taking K600 on Aug 24, 2006.
When provided the opportunity to address the court, Kolap said: “I want to say sorry before God in Heaven. I respect the decision of the court. I also apologies to the relatives of Mr Pewaipa.
“ I would like to ask the court to have mercy on me. That’s all.”
Kolap’s lawyer told the court in mitigation that his client had been in custody since April 5, 2008, and was a first-time offender who had expressed remorse.
Justice Graham Ellis said: “This was undoubtedly a vicious attack on an old man by a young man.
“The message you have learnt is that if you kill someone by hitting him with a hammer or an axe or bush knife, then you can expect to go to prison for 20 years or more.
“It is a pity that message does not seem to get through to people like you until after someone has died.
“If people would hear and remember the message before using a weapon to kill someone, then there would be fewer coming before the court to be sentenced, fewer victims being rushed to hospital, fewer families mourning the loss of a loved one and a safer community for everybody.”
Justice Ellis then sentenced Kolap to 20 years in prison with hard labour but deducted two years for the time he had spent in custody.