Man tried for killing girlfriend

JAKARTA (JP): A 19-year-old man was indicted at the West Jakarta District Court yesterday accused of raping his girlfriend and then killing her by giving her barbiturate pills and an alcoholic drink.

Prosecutor Siti S. Ekasari told reporters outside the court that the defendant, Novri Haryanto, was kept handcuffed during proceedings because it was feared he would try to escape as he did once when he was transferred from a police detention center in West Jakarta to Pondok Bambu penitentiary.

Presiding judge Hadi Lelana closed the trial to the public because it was a murder and rape case.

According to Ekasari, Haryanto raped victim Nina Sandra Amelia, 16, at his family's house on Jl. Joglo in Kembangan, West Jakarta, on Nov. 12 last year after giving her six Nipam pills and a soft drink which he mixed with alcohol.

The defendant then took Nina, who was still high, home on a public minibus, she said.

"After they arrived at Nina's house, Haryanto left the girl alone and fled," she said in the indictment statement.

Nina died the following day after staff at a hospital in Ciledug, Tangerang, were unable to revive her.

She said a postmortem examination showed that Nina died of intoxication.

The prosecutor said several bruises were found around the girl's neck and breasts.

During police interrogation, Haryanto reportedly said he did not mean to force Nina to take the pills.

"She was addicted to the pills," he said in a police statement, adding that they bought the pills, worth Rp 2,000 (21 U.S. cents), jointly.

Ekasari charged the defendant under Article 338 of the Criminal Code which carries a maximum punishment of 15 years imprisonment.

Hadi adjourned the trial until next week to hear witnesses' testimonies. (jun)