Suspended sentence for teenage cultist

THE Waigani National Court yesterday imposed a suspended sentence for a teenage student charged with the killing of another student in a practice related to cult activities.
Handing down the decision in the National Court, Deputy Chief Justice Judge Gibbs Salika said the cult activity was a very dangerous practice.
Salika said education institutions should take a strong approach for students to face suspension if they practice such activities in schools.
“We the parents have to be tough on our children if we want the best future for our children,” he said.
Salika also took into account that the deceased had no form of resistance when he was punched.
“I condemn this type of killing,” he said.
The student was given a four-year sentence which was suspended and he would be put on a 12-month good behaviour under the supervision of community-based corrections with certain conditions that the student should not consume any form of alcohol and should not practise any cult activities ever again.
The community-based corrections would be responsible for providing reports of the student to the court.
Salika said the same sentence was imposed on his two colleagues and justice would not be served if a different sentenced was imposed on the offender.
“No amount of regret would bring back the deceased,” he said.
The student’s father, a policeman, discouraged the type of activity practised by students saying that it was unexpected of students from church-run schools to be involved in such activities.
“Parents should always talk to their children and pray for them because our children are quickly influenced by the western culture,” he said.
He said it was the school’s responsibility to deal with such practices and introduce ways to deal with students who try to carry out such activities.
He said it happened that his son was at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people and accepted the court’s decision.
According to medical reports, the deceased was a healthy young boy.