Australian judge says killer will have to face tribal justice
Publish date: 13 September 2004
Issue Number: 1173
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: General
An Australian Supreme Court judge has handed down a suspended sentence to an Aboriginal woman who stabbed her cheating husband to death, saying he had to take into consideration that tribal punishment would be inflicted on her.
The Australian reports authorities are trying to find a safe haven for Deborah Sturt (32), who was given the rare sentence after spending almost a year in custody. Supreme Court Justice Michael Murray accepted it was inevitable the mother of four would face severe punishment for her partner\'s death. The process is likely to involve the infliction of wounds or injury, perhaps serious bodily harm, he said. One rural aboriginal community this week voted against her acceptance and another remote station is now considering the matter. Full report in The Australian