Leniency sought for murderer

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.
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