Five years for manslaughter

26 December 2008

A woman in her early twenties was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison this month by the Dzongkhag Court of Pemagatshel.

Pema Lhamu from Murshing Gonpa, mother of a minor girl, was convicted for the death of her maternal uncle on the night of September 13. Her 44-year-old mother, who was earlier suspected of her involvement in the crime, was not prosecuted.

Drangpon Wangchuk Drukpa said that the deceased, 26- year-old Tobgay, was found to be a habitual drinker and often abused his family members under the influence of alcohol. He is survived by a minor child.

While Pema Lhamu denied strangling her uncle, her 10- year-old sister described the incident graphically to investigators.

Hospital sources confirmed it as a clear case of manslaughter. In the end, the court pronounced it to be ‘an involuntary manslaughter committed in self defence’.

By Gyembo Namgyel

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