Republic v Anroo [2007] KIHC 134; High Court Criminal Case 15 of 2007 (13 September 2007)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KIRIBATI
CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
HELD AT BETIO
REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI

High Court Criminal Case No. 15 of 2007

BETWEEN:

THE REPUBLILC

AND:

TIOIETA ANROO

For the Republic: Ms Pauline Beiatau
For the Accused: Mr Banuera Berina

Date of Hearing: 12 September 2007

SENTENCE

Tioieta Anroo: you have pleaded guilty to manslaughter. One evening you and your wife were having a quiet time together near the airport. The dead man, Teakare Iotebwa, a neighbour of yours at Bonriki, an older man came by. Apparently he saw only your wife. He put his face close to hers and said insulting things to her. You became jealous and enraged. She told him to go away but he did not. What he was doing and saying greatly – I can understand why – provoked you.

You and he fought. In the course of fighting you caused him serious injuries. He was taken to his house.

You were soon very sorry for what you had done. Your sister and mother in law immediately went to apologize. Their apology was finally accepted. The ambulance was called. Teakare died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. By that time you had been arrested.

Your family took part with Teakare’s family in the funeral over several days and helped pay for it.

I accept both that you were much provoked by Teakare and that you greatly regret having killed him. Yet killing another man is always a very serious crime. Even in the situation in which you found yourself I must sentence you to a term of imprisonment.

You and your wife are 21 years old. Since this happened you have had a son who is now three months old. Because of the sad memories of what happened you moved from Bonriki and have been living in Bairiki.

In your favour is that you have no previous convictions, you co-operated with the police and have pleaded guilty. As a result the sentence of imprisonment will be rather shorter than it would otherwise have been.

You will be imprisoned for 18 months from yesterday when you went into custody.

Dated the 13th day of September 2007

THE HON ROBIN MILLHOUSE QC
Chief Justice