Man who killed wife gets 25 years

By Alphonse Porau
A man from Enga has been jailed for 25 years for killing his wife in Port Moresby because of suspicions of infidelity.
In the Bomana National Court was Robert Isaiah, from Wabag, who was convicted of the murder of Salome James last year. He had pleaded guilty for murdering his wife in bed on the night of May 25 at 9-Mile in the National Capital District.
He escaped to Wabag and was apprehended by police and brought back to Port Moresby.
The court heard that Isaiah was drunk and was under some emotional stress after hearing from his brother back in the village that his wife had been having an affair with another man and was pregnant.
When his wife went to bed next to him, he started questioning her about her pregnancy and told her to go to hospital for a test.
The court heard that James refused but admitted that she was pregnant. Isaiah took a kitchen knife and stabbed her twice in the face and then the body. The court heard that James sustained 11 wounds and died from loss of blood.
Justice Panuel Mogish told the prisoner that the reason for killing was inexcusable.
He said even though he showed remorse by pleading guilty, all the factors were rendered insufficient given the gravity of the offence.
“This is a bad case of killing. The offender used a knife to kill his wife all because of suspicions of infidelity,” he said.
He said there were village and district courts which were mandated to deal with domestic issues in a lawful way but the accused should not have taken another person’s life.
Justice Mogish said a person who had any issues with his or her partner regarding marital relationship had no right whatsoever to terminate the life of the other person.
Justice Mogish said the case was not an isolated incident but a prevalent excuse among married couples.
He said arguments leading to deaths over issues of adultery, infidelity and promiscuous activities by spouses were rife in the communities.
“You had a strong intention to cause grievous bodily harm to the deceased.
“This can be inferred from the number of incisions and stab wounds you inflicted on her body,” Justice Mogish said.
“This killing is totally unnecessary, especially when it related to a human problem that could have been resolved.
“The court must protect human life for obvious reasons.”