The PNG Post Courier reported that state prosecutors...

The PNG Post Courier reported that state prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for three prisoners who killed a man in front of his family, saying the courts were slow in imposing the maximum penalty on serious and worst-type offenders. The three were named as Wesley Nobudi, 17, Franky Yalikiti Fravo, 18 and John Lulu Evoa, 24. A fourth man, Emmanuel Jawagi Goria, faced the same fate, but was still at large since escaping from prison in September 2001. Goria was the gunman who pulled the trigger that killed Robert Yamang on the morning of April 18, 2000. Presiding judge Justice Mark Sevua was asked to impose the death penalty even though the trio were not the actual killers or the gunmen that fired the shot. "Although the three prisoners did not shoot the deceased that fatal morning, their collective action to rob the residents at Gerehu of their motor vehicles and other valuables resulted in the killing of the deceased," the prosecutions said. "They are equally responsible as the gunman Emmanuel Jawagi Goria and should be given the sentence/penalty applicable to the gunman, which in this case is the ultimate penalty of death sentence." Defence lawyers from the Office of the Public Solicitor urged the court to impose penalties other than the death sentence and life imprisonment.