March 5
SOLOMON ISLANDS:
Lawyer calls for 'death penalty'
A PROSECUTOR has reiterated his call for the reintroduction of death
penalty.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Ronald Bei Talasasa echoed the call
in his submissions to the High Court in Gizo last week.
He said accused found guilty of murder must be given the death penalty,
adding "that is justice in its truest sense".
Mr Talasasa stated that it is important for society to know, see and feel
that the criminal justice system does not only protect the right of an
offender, but more so that of the victim.
"When one kills and is convicted, he is taken care of by the state through
the established machineries.
"What happens to victims? Who takes care of them?
"It is my submission that a more deterrent approach and one that truly
reflects society abhorrence is a punishment that physically pains the
convicted offender.
"I hereby reignite my earlier call for the reintroduction of capital
punishment in this jurisdiction.
"If the victim suffers the loss of an innocent one, the perpetrator must
suffer likewise.
"That is justice in its truest sense," Mr Talasasa told Chief Justice Sir
Albert Palmer.
Capital punishment used to be the method of punishment for murderers
during the colonial era.
But that had since been abolished.
Mr Talasasa repeated his call for the reintroduction of capital punishment
during a manslaughter hearing in Gizo.
Chief Justice Sir Palmer had found Lawrence Mana guilty of manslaughter
but he was yet to pass sentence.
Mana was found guilty of causing the death of John Wao by pushing him over
twice to the ground.
The court found Mana's act of aggressions contributed to the death of Mr
Wao.
The incident happened more than 7 years ago on 14 March 1998.
Justice Palmer will pass sentence on a date yet to be set.
(source: The Solomon Star)
AUSTRALIA:
Lewis backs death penalty
INDEPENDENT MP Peter Lewis has called for the death penalty for people who
commit murder to cover up their crimes, who murder to "achieve their
political ends" or for people who kill police officers.
Mr Lewis, who announced last week he would contest the Upper House, said
people who wanted the law changed to include the death penalty in the
range of sentencing options available to judges should vote for him.
"No other politician or candidate has been willing to commit to introduce
such legislation in this campaign," the former Speaker said yesterday.
Mr Lewis has also called for chemical castration of recidivist pedophiles,
saying it is "a simple way to fix a large part of this problem before it
even gets started".
(source: The Advertiser)
