Catcalls lead to murder

CIREBON, West Java: A woman was gored to death by a teenager after an argument that apparently started with catcalls.

The 17-year-old boy is now on trial in the Sumber District Court on charges of premeditated murder, according to the Antara news agency.

On that fateful day in March, Yanti, an employee of a cooperative, was passing a sugarcane plantation when she was whistled at and teased by a group of workers. She responded by calling the workers names like "pigs" and "dogs," according to the prosecution.

The 17-year-old boy, who is a third grade student at a Majalengka junior high school, took offense at her remarks and quietly followed her and then slashed her neck with a sickle.

He subsequently dumped her body and took some Rp 63,000 from her handbag which he later used to pay the six months of arrears in his school fees, Antara reported. (emb)