Hands Off Cain
NEWS ARCHIVE·DEATH PENALTY·FEBRUARY 17, 2003
Papua New Guinea

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

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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.
SOURCES
  • (Sources: Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 17/02/2003)