A WOMAN has been sentenced recently to seven years and six months in prison over the death of an elderly woman in Malaita in 2016.
Judge, Leonard Maina sentenced Ida Gwaro after she entered a guilty plea for manslaughter charge.
The period of more than six years Gwaro already spent in custody was also taken into account which means she is likely to be released soon from prison.
Ida Gwaro was initially charged with murder, but the charge was later reduced to manslaughter due to the evidence on file.
Gwaro was suffering from mental illness when she stabbed an elderly disabled woman to death with a bush knife at Gwaiau village in the highlands of north Malaita.
That was in June 2016.
The deceased died as a result of wounds sustained on her legs and hands.
Gwaro was shortly arrested, charged and then remanded in custody for this incident.
She then had been appearing in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court for this matter.
A Psychiatrist was requested to assess her in 2017 after lawyers suspected her of having mental illness.
Following the assessment, the Psychiatrist confirmed Gwaro suffered from Paranoid Schizophrenia, which is a mental illness.
Gwaro’s matter was then sent to the Governor General for his consideration.
THE GG then made recommendation for her to be kept at the Rove Correctional Centre to receive treatment.
In 2021, Gwaro went through another assessment which the Psychiatrist confirmed she is fit to take her plea.
She entered a not guilty plea to the murder charge against her and her matter was committed to the High Court for trial after a committal hearing.
When the matter went to the High Court, Prosecution having reviewed the evidence on file reduced the charge to Manslaughter.
Gwaro then entered a guilty plea to the reduced charge. Ben Alasia of Public Solicitor’s Office represented Gwaro while Public Prosecutor Geitaba Waletofea appeared for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
