Witnesses testify peers killed student in brawl

Witnesses testify peers killed student in brawl

JAKARTA (JP): Two students testified before the Central
Jakarta District Court on Friday that fellow students from SMU 24
High School fatally stabbed and stoned a student from another
high school.

"The two witnesses testified that they saw the killing of the
SMU 7 student during the brawl last June," prosecutor Nurfah S.Y.
said after the trial, which was closed to the public.

"They admitted that they were involved in the brawl, but later
managed to escape from police arrest.

"However, they denied involvement in the killing."

Seven of the South Jakarta high school's students -- Tanuri,
Richmansyah, Talon, M. Riefansyah, Andi Riswandi, Suryadin and
Zefri Samsudin -- were indicted by Nurfah in a trial last week
for killing Alfi Syahril, whose school is located in Bendungan
Hilir subdistrict, Central Jakarta.

Alfi died in an after-school brawl on Jl. Sudirman, Central
Jakarta, on June 30.

Nurfah said the seven students were indicted under Article 170
of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 12
years in jail.

She said the seven students attacked the victim with machetes,
knives and stones.

An autopsy said Alfi suffered a severe injury to the back of
his head which caused massive brain damage.

Presiding judge Endang Sumarsih has declared the trial closed
to the public because the students are minors.

Endang told The Jakarta Post after Friday's trial that the
court would likely impose a jail term on the defendants if they
were convicted.

"If the victim had not died, we might have considered
remanding them in their parents' custody or sending them to a
juvenile detention center in Tangerang," she said.

Parents of Alfi and the defendants joined students from both
schools at the courthouse on Friday despite the judge's ruling to
bar them from the courtroom.

Alfi's mother, Rahmalina, 38, said that she expected the judge
to uphold the law and sentence them according to their crime.

"Although they are still students, the judge should sentence
them in accordance with the law," she said.

Rahmalina said she was continually reminded of Alfi. "Whenever
I see teenagers in high school uniforms, I always remember him."

Alfi's father Abu Somad, 43, said religious instruction was
important to stop students resorting to violence.

"We should teach good behavior and conduct to students through
religion," he said.

Endang adjourned the trial until next Friday when other
witnesses will testify. (asa)