Man tried for killing wife

TANGERANG (JP): A 75-year-old man indicted at Tangerang District Court on Thursday for killing his wife was driven to attack her by her complaints, the prosecutor said.

Asnawi said Oca Sainin slashed his wife, Risah Dogol, with a machete on the left side of her throat at their farming shed in Rengas village in Ciputat district here last Dec. 30.

"The defendant killed his wife because he was angry after hearing Risah repeatedly complain about their six missing chickens," Asnawi said.

He said the incident happened at noon as Risah carried a machete and crowbar.

Upset by his wife's complaints, the defendant grabbed the machete and hacked her across the neck, the prosecutor said.

He placed the machete on his wife's body and returned to their home, which is located nearby.

He cleaned himself up and performed his afternoon prayer before returning to examine the victim, Asnawi said.

The defendant took the machete, put it on a chair and shouted to local residents that Risah had committed suicide, the prosecutor said.

None of the seven witnesses who testified on Thursday said they saw the killing.

"We just saw a crowbar near the victim's body, a machete on a chair and part of a necklace on the victim's neck," one of the witnesses said.

The defendant's lawyer, M. Kamal Singadibrata, said the witnesses' testimony indicated the prosecutor illegally took Oca's sarong as evidence. (41/jun)