12-year jail term for man who stabbed wife to death

Oct 8, 2024 | News | 0

A 56-year-old from Vunatari village in Big Bay, Santo, who stabbed his wife to death with a knife in Port Vila in May of this year has been jailed for 12 years.

He stabbed her multiple times on the main road near the Cathedral area.

The Supreme Court heard that Judah George’s wife had filed a restraining order against ongoing assaults, prompting her to flee to Port Vila, where she secured a job at the Valet Chinese Takeaway Restaurant.

The accused was unhappy with the situation and traveled to bring her back to Big Bay. On May 27th, he went to her workplace, but she refused to speak with him. He confronted her on the road after she left work around 5pm and assaulted her.

Her medical report confirmed she died from exsanguination due to multiple stab wounds to the chest, according to the court verdict.

George pleaded guilty to one count of intentional homicide in court.

Section 106 (1) (a) of the Penal Code Act states that intentionally causing someone’s death without premeditation carries a penalty of 20 years in prison.

The Prosecution argued for a sentencing range of 13 to 20 years, while the Defence counsel proposed a suspended sentence of 2 years.

After considering aggravating factors and previous similar cases, Chief Justice (CJ) Vincent Lunabek set a starting point of 17 years’ imprisonment.

He reduced the sentence by 4 months for mitigating factors, and a further 30% reduction for his early guilty plea.

In the mitigating factors, the accused claimed he was ill and that his wife, who was supposed to care for him, was having an affair. When he discovered this, she left for Port Vila without informing him, and when he tried to call her, a man would answer the phone.

Although George expressed remorse for his actions, CJ Lunabek stated that his behavior did not demonstrate true remorse or consideration, as he killed his wife on a public road where there were pedestrians and people on vehicles returning home.

The CJ declined to suspend his sentence.

This custodial sentence is necessary to mark the public disapproval of this type of offending against women and mothers of this country, and serves as a protection for women as vulnerable members of the society, he stated.

“It serves as a deterrent against you and other like-minded people in this type of offending in the future,” stated the Judge.

George and his deceased wife had three children together, whom are all married now with grandchildren. He is a first-time offender.

He was remanded in custody from May 29 until his sentencing on September 25. This pre-custodial period will be deducted from his sentence.

He was given 14 days to appeal the sentence.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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