BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
A mother of five has received a seven-month jail sentence for unlawful wounding.
She had had an initial 18-month sentence reduced for reconciliation with the victim and an early guilty plea.
Hana Mangale entered a guilty plea when the case was mentioned during the Yandina court circuit; but, since there was a weapon used during the commission of the offence, the case was transferred to Honiara for sentencing.
This incident occurred on January 15, 2021 at Hae village Russell Islands; the accused was not happy with the victim, who is her cousin sister, after her husband confessed to her that he had had an affair with the victim.
The accused approached the victim and hit her with a mangrove stick.
The court said the victim sustained injuries to her head and was brought to Yandina clinic and received three stitches.
Chite told the accused, “whilst the court understand the hurt and pain inside your heart after your husband admitted to you, that he had a relationship with your cousin sister, your actions by using a mangrove stick and hit the victim is illegal as there are ways to solve issues.
He said the court also does not condone or tolerate extra marital affair as it causes break-up in families.
Therefore, taking into account the circumstance or mitigation submitted to the court, the court imposed a total of 18 months, however considering the reconciliation and also her early guilty plea that saved court’s time and resource, the court deducted 11 months off the total sentence and the accused will now be serving seven months in jail.
