Teenager jailed 8yrs for murder

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
A 17-YEAR-OLD who killed a man in Port Moresby’s Sabama was jailed eight years with light labour in Bomana prison’s juvenile section
Waigani National Court acting judge Tracy Ganaii said the boy would be released to the main prison when he turned 18.
Justice Ganaii made deductions for time spent in custody and taking into account the early guilty plea, leaving the defendant with a balance of five years to serve.
The incident occurred on Dec 8, last year.
The defendant was with two friends returning to Sabama from Kilakila Primary School.
The deceased was with other family members walking home.
The two groups passed each other when the deceased punched the defendant in the mouth.
The defendant retaliated by stabbing him in the chest, causing his death. The juvenile was 16-years-old at the time of the offence.
The defence lawyer submitted for a term between five and eight years. The court was told that the defendant’s family would not support him if he was to be released on probation.
The court was also told that the defendant’s family did not present any cash or kind to the deceased’s family on his behalf for reconciliation.
State Prosecutor Andrew Kaipu submitted that the defendant’s use of the weapon showed that he intended to cause grievous bodily harm and a jail term of between 16 and 20 years was appropriate.
But Justice Ganaii said it was not the worst case of murder.
The court took into consideration that the defendant was a first time offender, had pleaded guilty, was of good character, had no prior convictions, was a juvenile, was provoked, had not pre-planned the attack and had expressed remorse.