A 36-year-old man from Hongaubea, Bellona, in Renbel Province has been sentenced to three years imprisonment on Wednesday 23 October in the Honiara Magistrate court.
Nigel Haibagau received the sentence after he was found guilty of stabbing a Bangladesh national, Sumsi Hague with a kitchen knife in the side of his head.
He committed the offence when Hague was working as a cashier inside his Suba shop at White River on 26 May at around 3pm.
According to the agreed facts, Haibagau was said to be drunk when he entered the shop and hit the counter of the shop.
He proceeded further and stabbed the victim with the kitchen knife.
Haibagau was known for entering the shop, taking goods and threatening Hague to kill him with a knife.
He was not a first offender as the court also convicted him of another crime and sentenced on 11 August 2023 for one and half year imprisonment.
Of the total sentence, 12 months was suspended.
Principal Magistrate Emily Pakoa said you deliberately committed this offence within the 12 months that you were supposed to serve out of prison.
“Your actions have proved that you have not changed your ways, hence, the court should consider a sentence that addresses the need for deterrence, both specific and general, retribution, rehabilitation and prevention.
“I will therefore pitch the starting point at 42 months. I deduct 14 months (one third of starting point) for the guilty plea, and further deduct the 4 months already spent in custody,” she said.
Principal Magistrate Pakoa said this adds up to 24 months.
“I add 12 more months to reflect the use of weapons, involvement of alcohol, pre-mediation involved and your previous conviction bringing us to a total of 36 months,” she added.
