Kim John, 23, and Francis Phillip, 37, were sentenced...

Kim John, 23, and Francis Phillip, 37, were sentenced to death by a high court for the murder of two members of the Roman Catholic Church three years ago. The two men had been accused of killing Sister Theresa Egan and Father Charles Gaillard at the Roman Catholic Cathedral on 31 December 2000. The court was told during the eight-day trial that the two men had entered the Roman Catholic Cathedral in the city centre on the morning of 31 December and began setting people alight with petrol and torches. Thirteen other parishioners were severely injured during the ordeal. "We were striking a blow to rid the country of oppressors, the symbols of the Queen and the Vatican", said John. They also told the court that they did not recognize its authority as they had acted on behalf of a more supreme authority. "We would do it again if we had the opportunity to, as our people must be set free from oppression which the Catholic Church represents, taking money from poor people under the guise of religion", John said. Prosecutor Anthony Astaphan QC said that the state had wanted the death penalty. "This is a case of murder which was wilful and premeditated. It was an attack of brutality on all innocent persons. There was no self-defence, no nexus that triggered these acts of premeditated violence. The murders of Father Gaillard and Sister Egan were selective and deliberate," he told the court.