Man gets 8 years imprisonment for violence and sexual intercourse without consent

May 21, 2021 | News | 0

A man was sentenced to 8 years and four months imprisonment for forcing his wife into bestiality on several occasions.

These incidents happened over a period of six months in 2019.

The man pleaded guilty to three charges of domestic violence and two charges of sexual intercourse without consent.

According to the facts of the case, the man stated he did that as his expression of love for his wife.

Also, when interviewed by police, he stated he had not force his wife to give herself to the dog, she willingly participated, according to Court findings.

The maximum sentence for sexual intercourse without consent is life imprisonment and for domestic violence is 5 years imprisonment.

When imposing the end sentence, Supreme Court Judge, Justice G.A Andree Wiltens, said the offending is far too serious and due to the nature of it, suspending any or all of the sentence would be simply inappropriate.

The aggravating factors considered includes the repeated nature of the offending, the unprotected nature of the sexual intercourse exposing the wife to sexually transmitted disease, indignities perpetrated, the gross breach of trust and the controlling and entitled attitude exhibited at times of offending.

There are no mitigating factors of the offending, the findings of the Court stated.

Having considered the personal factors, Judge Wiltens reduced the sentence start point by six months.

These factors includes pleading guilty to all charges, being a chief in his community with no previous convictions and arranging a custom reconciliation ceremony with gifts- a cow, a pig, kava and mats.

The man, now 54 years old was married, but his wife has left him.

Regarding the man’s claim that he is remorseful since, Judge Wiltens said: “I did not accept the claimed remorse.

“The man indicated to the PSR writer that he was concerned that his wife was having an extra-marital affair, even though she denied that at a family meeting

“That seems to be his explanation for his callous and cruel offending.

“In cases of sexual offending, the courts have repeatedly stated that a lack of previous convictions is of limited value as mitigation,” said Judge Wiltens.

The man was given 14 days since May 10 last week to appeal the sentence.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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