Justice Must be Served on Domestic Violence, Says PNG PM Marape

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has called for effective prosecution for the murder of an innocent beautiful girl.

“Penalty provisions for domestic violence or any crime for that matter is in our laws, all we need is effective prosecution that should start by reporting a crime, standing as witnesses to assist prosecute a criminal act (including domestic violence), and police to do prosecution accurately without failing prosecution,” Mr Marape told the Post-Courier from Lae.

“Only when these fundamental steps of justice are collected, compiled and presented, will judges execute fair justice,” he said.

“So I call for all witnesses of crime, including domestic violence, don’t hide behind culture, compensation and tribal embrace, let us all assist prosecuting lawlessness and violence.”

Mr Marape said no amount of compensation would cover for death but justice must be served.

“For this girl murdered, I offer my sympathies to the family of the innocent beautiful child, and I call for prosecution of this murder,” he said.

“It is heard that the father of a young man possibly involved assisted bringing his son to Police for prosecution that is commendable as no amount of compensation can cover for death but justice served on the law breaker, hence it is commendable for the father to bring his son to Police.

“All relatives of law-breakers must do likewise into the future, because this can appease the present situation and set good practice and community precedent into the future,” said PM Marape.

Meanwhile, there needs to be strengthening of laws for victims of all forms of violence, says Dr Sam Yockopua.

Dr Yockopua made this call following the recent death of a young woman named Jennelyn Kennedy who is believed to be from a mixed parentage of Gulf Province and Australia. According to Dr Yockopua, Wednesday morning was his first ward rounds having returned from over two months of exhaustive COVID-19 work as the Chief Medical Officer. “The morning round was disturbed by a report from the night shift team of a loss, a death of a young woman at the hands of a violent man.

“Her lifeless body was rushed in, fully established death. Her loss of life must end other violence related deaths in this manner.”