SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR WOMAN WHO STABBED PARTNER

Aug 12, 2020 | News | 0

The Supreme Court has handed a suspended sentence to a woman over the fatal stabbing of her de-facto partner.

23-year-old Heromingly Marie Therese was convicted of one charge of intentional assault resulting in death, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.

Ms Heromingly was sentenced to 2 years 2 1/2 months in prison but her sentence was suspended. She was further sentenced to 18 months of supervision and was ordered to serve 100 hours of community service.

In the early morning of February 22, 2020, the deceased who was intoxicated had an argument and slapped his partner’s face.

Ms Heromingly admitted that she and her partner had been drinking the previous evening and she went to bed at 3am. Her partner continued drinking and was drunk when she woke up at 7am. They argued over the noise from the loud music when the deceased slapped her.

According to the court, Ms Heromingly stabbed her late partner on his left chest with a 31cm knife, after he assaulted her again.

The stab wound is the cause of death.

Ms Heromingly has a 13-month-old child to care for. She has no previous convictions. Her family performed a custom reconciliation ceremony.

Ms Heromingly maintained that she was extremely remorseful. Justice Gustaaf Andrée Wiltens accepted her remorse was genuine.

Justice Wiltens said in his decision that Ms Heromingly has a young child to care for, and she has to live with the knowledge that she caused the needless loss of her partner’s life.

The suspension of sentence will run for three years.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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