Jobless man gets 20 years for murder

Jobless man gets 20 years for murder

JAKARTA (JP): The district court in Palangkaraya, Central
Kalimantan, sentenced a jobless man to 20 years in prison
yesterday for killing two toddlers from the Tewah district.

The 23-year-old Ediwardi was found guilty of killing Arnol
Garasia and Ika, both aged 3 but unrelated, in a revenge attack
against their parents.

In a previous session, prosecutors had demanded that Ediwardi
be sentenced to 15 years for the premeditated murder.

Presiding judge Arifin said in the verdict that the tragedy
occurred on Nov. 4 last year at about 4 p.m. The accused
strangled the children and dumped their bodies in a nearby river.

The defendant removed the children's clothing so it would
appear as if the babies had drowned while bathing in the river.

Ediwardi told the court that he killed the children after
their parents had made fun of him being unemployed.

Until Ediwardi was arrested, residents of the area were
gripped by rumors that a mysterious baby-snatcher was at work in
the district.

When the babies' disappearance was reported, Ediwardi
pretended to be innocent and helped look for them, Antara
reported. (pan)