End of death penalty in Papua New Guinea
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
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End of death penalty in Papua New Guinea
PORT MORESBY: Prime Minister James Marape made history for Papua
New Guinea on Tuesday (Jan 11, 2022) when he announced that the Government is doing
away with the death penalty, in keeping with the Bible’s “thou shall not kill”.
He said all on death row would have their death
penalty commuted to life sentences without parole.
The news break was published by The National:
End of death
penalty
January 12, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE Government is doing away with the death penalty, in keeping with the
Bible’s “thou shall not kill” commandment, and will commute those currently on
death row to life sentences without parole.
Prime Minister James Marape told members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
holding their 33rd synod in Port Moresby that PNG was a Christian nation and
the death penalty was out of place.
“The Bible says thou shall not kill and the Government has removed, by policy,
the clause on the death penalty,” he said.
“We are working on giving the maximum penalty to those who commit an offence
and sentenced to death.
“They will now receive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
“This is the path we are taking and we are starting to ensure that the country
lives the ideals of Christianity.”
The total number of people on death row in prisons around country could not be
confirmed yesterday. But Correctional Services Commissioner Stephen Pokanis
told The National that 14 were in Bomana Prison in Port Moresby.
It is understood there were 15 prisoners on death row there, but one escaped
during the Repentance Day breakout last year.
He is Emax Goasa, who is still on the run.
It is understood that there are six on death row in Kerevat Prison in East New
Britain.
The numbers in other prisons were not made available to The National.
Justice Minister Bryan Kramer last year told The National that
the death penalty would be reviewed and research would be done into whether it
had resulted in the reduction or prevention of serious crimes.
Father and son Selam and Misialis Amos, who were on death row for sea piracy,
were found not guilty in 2017 in East New Britain and released.
The father and son were charged in 2011.
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