Four jailed for beating soldier

DILI: Four of 16 people charged with beating to death an off- duty soldier last Christmas eve were sentenced here Monday to between six and half months and eight months in prison.

They were found guilty of assaulting First Corporal Alfredo Siga when thousands of East Timorese welcomed Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo home from Oslo after he had collected his Nobel peace prize.

The heftiest sentence was handed down to Jose Nunu Lopes. The other three defendants, Gregorio, Manuel Baretto and Eduardo Gutteres, received six and a half months jail.

One of the 16, Baltazar Miquel, was found not guilty Monday. The other 11 have been convicted. (aan)