Teenager tried for killing his own mother

Teenager tried for killing his own mother

JAKARTA (JP): A 17-year-old boy was indicted at the Central
Jakarta District Court yesterday for allegedly killing his
mother.

Prosecutor Roskanedi said the defendant, Hardiansyah, killed
his 53-year-old mother, Jumriyati, on Feb. 3 in their house on
Jl. Setiakawan, Duri Pulo, for berating him.

"He killed her because he was also ashamed of having a
mentally ill mother. He had planned to kill her," Roskanedi said
in proceedings closed to the public.

He said the defendant woke up at 2:30 a.m. on the second floor
of the house where his brothers and sisters were sleeping.

Hardiansyah then went downstairs and took out a knife from the
kitchen before entering the bedroom where his mother was
sleeping, he said.

The defendant then covered his mother's face with a piece of
cloth and stabbed her in the chest and abdomen, he said. The
victim died instantly at the scene.

Roskanedi said Hardiansyah left a letter beside his mother's
body saying that he had killed her and asking his brothers and
sisters not to report it to the police.

Roskanedi charged the defendant under Article 340 of the
Criminal Code, which carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in
prison.

Presiding Judge Mahdi S.N. adjourned the trial until next
week, when witness testimonies will be presented.

Hardiansyah said outside the court that his mother started to
suffer from deep depression 10 years ago after returning home
from Saudi Arabia as a housemaid. The mother of 12 children found
out at that time that her husband had married again.

"My mother apparently could not forget my father and her
divorce. She often scolded me and the other children without
clear reasons," the elementary school dropout said.

"I never planned to kill my mother. I didn't really realize
what I was doing that morning. I just woke up and stabbed my
mother. I actually loved her and she loved me too," he said in
the court detention room. (jun)