The two accused persons being led out of the court room after sentencing.
SIBU: The High Court here yesterday sentenced two labourers to 15 years’ jail for culpable homicide for the death of their friend two years ago.
Judge Dato Lee Heng Cheong laid down the sentence after Slyverter James and Azwan Chendang pleaded guilty to an alternative charge.
The sentence takes effect from the date of their arrest.
The duo was originally indicted on a joint murder charge framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code which provides for the mandatory death sentence on conviction.
In the alternative charge, they were charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
They killed Edmind Antas at 6.45am on Aug 31, 2015 in Tekam Road here.
The offence, punishable under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code, carries a maximum penalty of 30 years’ jail and liable to a fine upon conviction.
Witnesses had told the court that the accused persons hit the victim by kicking, punching and hitting him on the head with a piece of wood.
The victim fell and was later thrown into a nearby drain.
A post mortem showed injuries on the head corresponding with the effect of being hit through punches, smashes and by using blunt object like wood or falling down on hard blunt object, as the causes of death.
Injuries were also found in the neck region like the effect of strangling as well as impact on the body like being soaked in water.
Slyverter was represented by assigned counsel Louis Jarau while Azwan was represented by Ben Lau.