Two men jailed for murder of asylum seeker Reza Barati

Two men have been sentenced to 10 years in jail for the murder of asylum seeker Reza Barati at Australia’s immigration detention centre on Manus Island.

Reza

A shrine for Reza Barati is seen during a candlelight vigil in support of asylum seekers in Brisbane, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. Source: AAP

Two men have been found guilty of the murder of asylum seeker Reza Barati at the Manus Island detention centre.

Mr Barati, 23, from Iran, died after riots inside the Australian-run detention centre in February 2014.

A Papua New Guinea court sentenced Joshua Kaluvia and Louie Efi to 10 years in jail, with five years suspended, for the murder, the .

Sentencing trial judge Nicholas Kirriwom said the pair received a lower sentence because other people were involved but had not been charged.

At least 69 other people were injured in the incident.

Then-immigration minister Scott Morrison initially called the riot a disturbance that had caused minor damage.

Details subsequently emerged that PNG locals, riot police and the centre's own security guards had invaded the compound and begun beating refugees.

Kaluvia, a Salvation Army worker at the detention centre, was on the run for five months before his arrest.

A report by former senior public servant Robert Cornall found Mr Barati died after being hit from behind with a heavy stick.

A Senate inquiry blamed the riots on delays in processing asylum seeker claims.

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2 min read
Published 19 April 2016 3:24pm
Updated 19 April 2016 3:54pm
Source: AAP

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