A 40 year-old man who cut his 16-year-old nephew with a bush knife while he was sleeping over suspicion he had an affair with his wife has been sentenced to two years imprisonment.
Eliah Eliot Manehogo Tobahogo was sentenced via zoom video link recently in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court after he pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful wounding.
In his sentencing remarks, Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison said the sentence is aimed to send a deterrent message to the people who are in this country that wounding a defenseless person using a weapon warrants a custodial sentence.
“The defendant suspected his wife of infidelity and for having an affair with his nephew who is the complainant,” Mr Hollison said.
He added that the defendant should have asked both the complainant and his wife if the alleged extra-marital affair is true.
“If so, they should have solved the issue harmoniously, cordially and in a peaceful manner.
“The complainant was defenseless at the time as he was asleep and he cannot defend himself.
“That is a senseless and vicious act which could have cost the life of the complainant,” Mr Hollison said.
On 26 September 2021, the complainant and his uncle went to dive beche-de-mer and then returned to Hakama Village at about at about 2am on 27 September 2021.
Upon their return, the complainant cooked some crabs and ate them before he went to sleep in his grand-parents’ house.
While he was sleeping, the defendant went inside the house where the complainant was sleeping and cut him once on his chest area with a bush knife and ran away.
The complainant woke up and cried as he was in great pain and was assisted by his aunt who lived next door.
He was transported to Tulagi Hospital via an outboard motor powered canoe for medical attention and later referred to the National Referral Hospital for assessment and treatment.
Mr Hollison said the complainant received serious injury on his body as per the medical report.
He said the complainant could have easily died through loss of blood at that time.
The sentence imposed was backdated to commence on 30 September 2021, the day the defendant was first remanded in custody.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Newsroom, Honiara
