A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter, following the death of his sister last year in Guadalcanal.
Daniel Suiramo was sentenced for the incident in which he threw a bush knife that speared through his sister’s leg, leading to her death a few days later.
Deputy Chief Justice Rex Faukona, in handing down the sentence, emphasized that it serves as a deterrent, not only to the defendant but also to the wider community.
The tragedy occurred on February 5, 2023, at Chonaponga Village in West Guadalcanal.
Suiramo, who was reportedly sick and resting on a hammock at their family home, became irritated after an argument between his mother and sister. His mother, upset that Suiramo and his wife did not join her on a trip to the Honiara Central Market, was preparing food and complaining, while his sister, the deceased, accused Suiramo of eating nuts meant for the market.
In a moment of frustration, Suiramo threw a bush knife from the second floor of the house toward his sister, who was sitting nearby. The knife pierced through her right leg and exited on the opposite side. One of their sisters rushed to help, pulling the knife out, but the damage was severe, and the injured woman cried out in pain as blood poured from her wounds.
She was taken to Lambi Clinic and later transferred to the National Referral Hospital, where she remained under treatment for three days. Despite medical efforts, her condition worsened, and she passed away on February 7, 2023.
In his ruling, DCM Faukona noted the seriousness of the offense, highlighting the use of a weapon and the force with which the knife was thrown. He described the action as reckless, emphasizing that while the incident may have been unpredictable, the defendant’s decision to throw the knife showed a clear intent to cause harm.
“The defendant is fortunate that the murder charge was withdrawn and replaced with manslaughter,” DCM Faukona remarked, noting that Suiramo would have faced a much more severe penalty had the murder charge been pursued.
The court also acknowledged the immense loss felt by the family, stating that the tragic death of Suiramo’s sister would leave a lasting impact on their lives.
Suiramo’s time already spent in custody will be deducted from his sentence.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
