Republic v Tekeari - Sentence [2007] KIHC 31; Criminal Case 55 of 2006 (6 March 2007)

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

High Court Criminal Case No. 55 of 2006

THE REPUBLIC

v

KAREREITI TEKEARI

For the Republic: Mr David Lambourne, Solicitor General
For the Accused: Mr Stephen Earl

Date of Hearing: 2 March 2007

SENTENCE

Karereiti Tekeari: On 2 February you pleaded guilty to murder, attempted rape and indecent assault. It happened on 12 March last year at Tabakea village on Kiritimati and was a most serious crime. In the night you went into a house and took a little girl not two years old from where she was sleeping with her family. You violated her and killed her.

You had been out of gaol only for six weeks serving a sentence for criminal trespass. You are 25 years old.

Before sentencing you I ordered that you be examined by a psychiatrist. I have now read Dr Barbova-Gurova’s report. She said your memory and intellectual capacity are intact. More significantly she said, "There is a considerable risk of sexual re-offence against children in the future". You may well do such a thing again when you are released from prison. That influences me to set a very long time before you can apply for parole.

The only penalty for murder is life imprisonment. I sentence you to life imprisonment. There is no point in my fixing terms of imprisonment for the other two offences, attempted rape and indecent assault. For those you are convicted without penalty.

You did plead guilty as soon as you came before the Court. That is in your favour and means a shorter non-parole period than otherwise.

The time before which you may apply for parole – we call it the non-parole period – is 15 years.

Dated the 6th day of March 2007

THE HON ROBIN MILLHOUSE QC
Chief Justice