Backlash over child killer’s sentence

The rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl has sparked outrage in Ethiopia, with many saying the sentence given to her attacker is too lenient. Heaven Awot was sexually assaulted, mutilated and killed by her mother’s landlord Getnet Baye last August in the north-western city of Bahir Dar. BBC News reports that he was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment. The case attracted widespread attention when he recently launched an appeal, and the case is now adjourned until October. More than 200 000 people have so far signed an online petition demanding a review of the sentencing ‘to reflect the gravity of the crime’ and to offer support for the grieving mother. The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association released a statement saying it believes the sentencing was ‘very light’ and ‘the murder by itself should have been enough to sentence him to life imprisonment or to death’. Senior government officials have joined the chorus of criticism, with Minister for Women & Social Affairs Ergogie Tesfaye saying the crimes committed against the child were 'inhumane'.