Pacific / Vanuatu

Vanuatu child murderer jailed for life

14:15 pm on 17 April 2019

Vanuatu's Supreme Court has sentenced a man to life in prison for the murder of a six-year-old girl on Tanna.

A packed court room in Port Vila erupted in joy when Bob Robert was sentenced by Justice Gustaaf Andree Wiltins.

The Daily Post newspaper reported the rapist and murderer was on parole when he committed the offence.

The court heard that under the influence of alcohol and kava, Robert unsuccessfully tried to enter two houses on the day of the murder in 2018.

He took the victim from a third house and abused then murdered the child in a secluded area about three kilometres from her home.

The body was discovered the next morning by family members.