A MAN has been sentenced to two years in prison for attacking three people with a Chainsaw chain in May 2022 in Tulagi, Central Province.
Marvin Parina, 35, has been found guilty after a trial of one count of Unlawful Wounding and two counts of Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm.
When sentencing Parina, Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi said he used a chainsaw chain and a chain is considered a very dangerous and lethal weapon that can cause very serious injuries to any person.
“The wounds suffered by the victims are an example of the potential harm that can be caused when a chain saw chain is used for the wrong purposes,” Magistrate Fatima said.
She added that she deemed the injuries sustained by the victims, especially the second victim, were very serious.
“The second victim was struck on his head.
“I consider the attack on the second victim as life-threatening.
“The human head is a vulnerable part of the human body. An attack to the head could result in death or very serious physical and mental injuries.”
Magistrate Taeburi further added that the attack was carried out at night and it was pre-meditated.
“…..it has been proved in this case that the convict was informed of the fights between his son and the victims at Tulagi earlier on that day (1 May 2022).
“It was shown that upon hearing the information, he paddled across from his home village to Tulagi.
“It was shown that he then walked to Cut Hill where he attacked his victims.
“It was found that he already possessed the chain in his right hand and wrapped it with a cloth when he initiated the first attack on the first victim.”
Magistrate Taeburi said in her view, the fact that Parina attacked three people at one time makes this case more serious compared to other cases of assault.
“He did not injure one but three people at the same time.
“He was the instigator of the violence – the facts proved in this case show that he initiated the fight.”
The court heard Parina first challenged his first victim by words, then he struck his first victim, followed by a series of attacks.
It was also heard that there were two children in the victim’s group at the time of offending.
Magistrate Taeburi said the facts proved showed that the first and second victims were carrying children when the prisoner attacked his victims with the chain.
“In my view, he showed no concern for the children when he swung the chain at the victims.
“It is without a doubt that he saw the children being carried by the victims.
“That did not stop him from attacking the victims, therefore putting the children’s life in danger.”
Magistrate Taeburi when imposing sentence on Parina considered the fear and terror the children experienced at that time.
She also considered the suffering and pain that the three victims had to endure as a result of the prisoner’s actions that day.
She then imposed a two-year jail term for the Unlawful Wounding and eight months imprisonment each for the Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm charges.
The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, giving Parina a total sentence of two years in prison.
Alice Silas and Jennifer Happilyn of Public Solicitor Office represented Parina, whilst Public Prosecutors Steward Tonowane and Lindsay appeared for the Crown.
BY ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
