Leniency sought for murderer

JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers defending a man charged with manslaughter asked the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday to mete out the lightest sentence possible for their client.

They said 26-year-old Budi Hermawan alias Imay stabbed the victim, Mulyadi, during a fight at Tanah Abang bus station in April.

Budi used the knife in self-defense, they said, also pointing out that Mulyadi was drunk at the time. The fight was triggered by Mulyadi's own behavior, they said.

According to the prosecution, the two men got into an argument after Budi scorned Mulyadi for harassing a woman at the bus station. Budi stabbed the victim in the chest, neck, and forehead. Mulyadi died instantly.

Budi, a bus conductor, was charged with manslaughter under Article 338 of the Criminal Code which carries a maximum 15 years' imprisonment.

Last week, government prosecutor Endang Rahman asked the court to sentence the defendant to 14 years' imprisonment.

Lawyers from the Central Jakarta Legal Aid Post said Budi never intended to kill Mulyadi.

The trial was adjourned until next week to hear the verdict. (12)