NT:Woman was killed to humiliate: NT judge

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2011
NT:Woman was killed to humiliate: NT judge

By Xavier La Canna

DARWIN, Dec 23 AAP - A Northern Territory judge says a woman killed in a supposed exorcism
on a remote island last year was beaten to humiliate her, not cleanse her of evil spirits.

In sentencing four people who pleaded guilty to negligent manslaughter, Justice Peter
Barr described how the dead woman, Sarah Bara, had a lowly status at the outstation where
she lived.

She was tasked with doing most of the upkeep at the station, on Groote Eylandt off
the coast of northern Australia.

On the day she died Ms Bara had been asked to find a bag containing heart medicine
for one of the accused, Susie Wurrawilya, but she could not find it.

Justice Barr described how a group that included children watched on as Ms Bara was
beaten repeatedly with sticks while begging for help.

Wurrawilya participated in the beating, as did her sister Glenys Wurrwilya, Justice Barr said.

Wurrawilya's son, Roderick Mamarika, the senior member of the group, watched on but
did not intervene and was guilty by omitting to use his status to help, Justice Barr said.

The husband of Wurrwilya, Paul Wurramara, also did not act to stop the beating but
did not take part in it.

After initial beatings, the victim was forced to sit down while a circle of fire was
lit around her and she continued to be struck with sticks.

Despite claims by some of the accused that she was struck to "beat the devil out of
her" Justice Barr said the beating was in fact designed to cause Ms Bara pain, break her
spirit and humiliate her.

"I am not satisfied that any of the accused thought she had the devil in her," he said.

An autopsy showed Ms Bara had been struck with extreme force in 26 separate blows,
with internal injuries suggesting even more.

The accused tried to conceal her death by claiming she had been bitten by a snake and
hurt herself after falling over, the court heard.

Justice Barr said Susie Wurrawilya was a ringleader in the events and sentenced her
to six years and nine months' jail, with a non-parole period of three years and five months.

He said Glenys Wurrwilya was also a ringleader, handing her a sentence of seven years
and six months with a non-parole period of three years and nine months.

Mamarika could have used his authority at any time to stop the events, Justice Barr
said, sentencing him to five years and nine months in prison.

A non-parole period of two years and 11 months was set.

Wurramara was the first of the accused to give police an honest account, Justice Barr
said. He was sentenced to five years, with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

During the proceedings some in the courtroom yelled out to the accused in their native
tongue, while another left the building after calling them murderers.

AAP xlc/jl/goc/

KEYWORD: LEGAL: EXORCISM

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