Man gets 10 years for murder

JAKARTA (JP): A bus conductor was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on Wednesday for a murder he committed during a fight to protect the honor of a female passerby.

The Central Jakarta District Court found Budi Hermawan, alias Imay, of Cipinang Besar, East Jakarta, guilty of manslaughter.

Judge Madjono said he leaned toward such a stiff punishment, in spite of the circumstances, because Budi had a prior record.

Budi stabbed Mulyadi three times on the morning of April 27 during a fight at the Tanah Abang bus terminal. The fight began after Budi chastised Mulyadi for harassing a woman.

The state prosecutor had demanded 14 years imprisonment.

The judge considered the defendant's admission of guilt and expression of remorse as mitigating factors, even though Mulyadi was drunk at the time of the incident. (12)