Pedicab driver gets death for massacre

SURABAYA (JP): A 19-year-old pedicab driver was sentenced to death yesterday for massacring a family of four in February.

A panel of three judges found Sugianto, alias Sugik, guilty of murdering Soekardjo, his wife Hariningsih and their children Eko Hari Sucahyo and Danang Priyo Utomo.

Presiding judge Soebijakto said in his verdict that the defendant massacred the family because he wanted their motorbike.

Soebijakto said the defendant intended to sell the motorbike pay back his employer for his pedicab which had been stolen several days before the murder.

The judge described the premeditated murder as "sadistic" and said the panel had found no consideration that could lighten the punishment.

"The murder was sadistic. He beat the victims to death with a stick. Some of the victims were children. It finished the family lineage of Soekardjos," Soebijakto said.

Dozens of people attending the sentencing burst into a huge satisfied applause as the judge finished reading the verdict.

Sugianto, wearing a red shirt, blue jeans and a peci, or national cap, looked down but expressed no remorse when he heard the ruling. "Shoot or hang him soon," someone shouted.

An angry relative of the deceased slipped into a group of police officers, who were escorting the convict into a waiting van, to punch Sugianto's head.

Sugianto's lawyers, from Surabaya University, said they would need time to decide if they would appeal.

The murders took place on Feb. 15 at the home of Soekardjo, an employee of Airlangga University. The defendant buried the bodies in their backyard.

The defendant had told the court he needed Soekardjo's motorbike because his boss had demanded he pay Rp 200,000 (US$85) in compensation for the pedicab he had lost. (25/pan)