3 women jailed for dragging, punching and whipping young girl in viral video

Three women who dragged, punched and repeatedly whipped a 14-year-old girl before cutting her hair bald in Honiara in July have been jailed today by the Honiara Central Magistrate.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea found Lisa Tolo, Florence Kini and Rose Sango guilty— ruling that the offence was committed as a group against a helpless 14-year-old-girl.

Iomea sentenced the leader of the trio, Lisa to 12 months in jail— however the sentence is to be backdated to start of 27 July this year when she was first remanded.

Both Florence and Rose were sentenced to 10 months in prison however the sentences are to be backdated to start of 27 July this year when both were first remanded.

The three were charged with one count of acts intended to cause grievous harm, contrary to section 223 of the panel code.

The three admitted the offence when they pleaded guilty to the charge on 18 September 2020 and were convicted on their own guilty pleas.

A video on the brutal attack of the girl was widely circulated on social media.

Facts presented before court stated that on 21 July, the complainant took a speaker belonging to the husband of her cousin sister, Lisa without his consent. She took the speaker and went to Vara Creek to listen to some music.

A day later (Wednesday), the complainant continued to use the speaker whilst she was drinking beer with some boys and girls at Vara Creek.

The court heard that on Friday, about 9am, the complainant saw Lisa who became angry with her for taking the speaker belonging to her husband without her consent.

According to the court, Lisa led her cousin sisters Florence and Rose to go and meet the complainant.

The complainant became frightened when she saw her cousins walking toward her. She tried to run but they blocked her.

“Lisa (Tolo) went straight and slapped the complainant on her right cheek. Lisa then proceeded to whip the complainant’s right and left hand with a piece of timber, the size of 2-3m in length, she then tied the complainant (young girl) against a post underneath their house and pointed the timber on the complainant’s mouth as she tried to talk back. The complainant cried and screamed for help but no one helped her,” magistrate Iomea said in his ruling.

He said that all three assisted one another in dragging, punching and whipping the complainant.

“Rose then took a scissors and handed it to over to Lisa who then cut the complainant’s hair, making it bald. The complainant struggled to get free but Florence held on tight to her. She then tried to run and hide inside their house, but Lisa grabbed hold on her legs and dragged her out of the house and whipped her legs on the ground. Florence held the complainant and Lisa grabbed another piece of timber and whipped the leg of the complainant. Lisa then grabbed a red rope and tied it around the complainant and continued to punch her,” the magistrate detailed in his ruling.

The complainant was taken to the National Referral Hospital for medical attention and the doctor who attended to her at time, stated in his report that the complainant suffered superficial lacerations to her forearms with multiple bruises at her arms and legs. She was given oral anti-biotics and painkiller treatment.

In his ruling, Iomea states that Lisa was the main actor in the offending.

He said the trio had decided to take the law into their own hands to punish the complainant for taking a speaker without the permission of the owner.

“There are peaceful ways of dealing with disagreements and not by resorting to violence,” he said.

Iomea said he has noted the three are first time offenders and they are all young married women and have families that depend on them one way or the other.

However he said the principle of deterrence is an important consideration in deciding the appropriate sentence in his case.

Iomea said having considered the facts that are unique to the case, the aggravating factors and the mitigating factors and the need for deterrence, he’s of the view that  short, sharp custodial sentences are appropriate.

News@SBMOnline2020