Ben Simakot, convicted of raping a mother and then...

Ben Simakot, convicted of raping a mother and then bludgeoned her and her two-year-old son to death with an iron bar, was sentenced to death in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea. In sentencing 29-year-old Simakot, Justice Amberg Kandakasi said he took into account the views of Vanimo residents who apparently supported the death penalty.
The court heard that Simakut went to Francesca Kame Menapol's poultry farm at Yuiil village on 19 July 2002 to ask for a chicken, promising to pay later.
When Francesca refused, Simakut pushed her to the ground and raped her in front of her son.
After he had had his way, he picked up an iron rod and hit Francesca repeatedly until she died.
He then attacked the boy, killing him as well.
Justice Kandakasi said sentencing offenders was a community responsibility.
"It was necessary to consider input from the community," he said, but added that their views were not binding on the court.
The Probation Service conducted the survey which showed that 70 per cent of those interviewed wanted the death penalty applied, 20 per cent chose life sentence, while 10 per were opposed to the death penalty.