Tourists jailed in Indonesia for cop’s death

A court on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali on Monday sentenced a British man charged with attacking a traffic police officer and causing his death to six years in prison and his Australian girlfriend to four years.

David Taylor, a dreadlocked DJ who adopted a more sober appearance for the trial, said he accepted the judge’s decision.

During the trial, his girlfriend, Sara Connor, who faced the same charge, said she wasn’t an active participant in the attack. But the judges found that her role prevented the officer, Wayan Sudarsa, from defending himself.

Prosecutors sought eight-year prison terms for Connor and Taylor, who were arrested last August in the death of Sudarsa, whose bloodied body was found on the beach outside the Pullman Hotel in the popular tourist area of Kuta.

They were charged with com- mitting violence leading to death, which carries a maximum 12-year prison term under Indonesian law.

Erwin Siregar, a lawyer for Connor, said an appeal was being considered.

“It seems she doesn’t accept the sentence, but has not yet decided whether to appeal,” Siregar said. “My position is that we have to appeal. We will meet in next two or three days to decide.”

The 34-year-old Taylor, who promoted himself as DJ Nutzo, admitted hitting the Indonesian man repeatedly with a cellphone, binoculars and a broken beer bottle, leaving him face down and unconscious. But he said he didn’t realize Sudarsa would die.

Connor, 46, and Taylor were drinking beer on the beach in the hours before the late-night incident.

Taylor said he got into a fight with Sudarsa, who was on duty, after Connor realized she had lost her handbag and accused Sudarsa of being a fake police officer and stealing it.

Bali, famous for its Hindu culture, lush interior and white sand beaches, is Indonesia’s highest-profile tourist island and a particular magnet for holiday makers from Australia.