Warders and their bosses at Papua New Guinea's Bomana...
Warders and their bosses at Papua New Guinea's Bomana prison don't want to be the ones to hang a convicted killer
1 MIN READ
Warders and their bosses at Papua New Guinea's Bomana prison don't want to be the ones to hang a convicted killer.
They told a visiting Australian journalist that the judge who dealt out the death sentence should "do it himself".
Justice Gibbs Salika in January sentenced Arua Maraga Hariki, 34, to die by hanging for the wilful murders of two young men, Heni Veidiho and Matthew Togiri.
But the staff at Bomana prison, where Hariki is being detained pending an appeal, do not want to execute Hariki.
Jail superintendent David Melange told Paul Toohey of The Australian: "I think it's best that the judge come here and do it himself. The whole staff-prison population here will oppose it."
Acting Corrective Services Commissioner Kelly Karella said there was the problem of building a gallows for the lawful execution to take place.
"The question remains, who will be responsible for the hanging? It needs to be clarified between the Attorney-General's and Corrections (departments)," he said.
Karella agreed that prison officers oversee executions in other countries.
"But we don't want to hang people," Karella said. "Our role should be caring for prisoners."
Hariki is one of four men on "death row", sentenced to death and awaiting either reprieve through legal appeal or death through execution.
They told a visiting Australian journalist that the judge who dealt out the death sentence should "do it himself".
Justice Gibbs Salika in January sentenced Arua Maraga Hariki, 34, to die by hanging for the wilful murders of two young men, Heni Veidiho and Matthew Togiri.
But the staff at Bomana prison, where Hariki is being detained pending an appeal, do not want to execute Hariki.
Jail superintendent David Melange told Paul Toohey of The Australian: "I think it's best that the judge come here and do it himself. The whole staff-prison population here will oppose it."
Acting Corrective Services Commissioner Kelly Karella said there was the problem of building a gallows for the lawful execution to take place.
"The question remains, who will be responsible for the hanging? It needs to be clarified between the Attorney-General's and Corrections (departments)," he said.
Karella agreed that prison officers oversee executions in other countries.
"But we don't want to hang people," Karella said. "Our role should be caring for prisoners."
Hariki is one of four men on "death row", sentenced to death and awaiting either reprieve through legal appeal or death through execution.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 17/02/2003)
KEEP READING
ALL THE NEWS · DEATH PENALTY On the same front

DEATH PENALTYSEPTEMBER 2, 2026
IRAN - Aziz Roshanayi executed in Shiraz on September 2

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
Pakistan: ASI sentenced to death for killing two brothers in Swabi

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
Bangladesh: HC confirms death sentence of lone accused for rape, murder of 8-year-old Asiya

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
IRAN - Mojtaba Salahi Laghani executed in Rasht on September 2

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 30, 2026
Pakistan: Man sentenced to death, brother gets life term for double murder in 2021

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 23, 2026
