The parents of a young woman who was killed by her boyfriend have spoken out after the judge made a ruling that they claim does not fit the crime.
The murder of 22-year-old Myat Thin Kyu, a student at Yangon Technological University, took place last January. On January 26, she went out following a phone call with her boyfriend Thura Aung.
Two days later, her body was found in a field with several injuries, including an open forehead wound and a bruise around her neck. Thura Aung was arrested the next day and charged with murder under Section 302.
A judge at the Yangon East District Court ruled yesterday afternoon that the culprit was guilty, and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment. However, Myat Thin Kyu’s parents feel that the sentence is far too lenient considering what he did to their daughter.
“Even rape cases get a 20-year sentence. [My daughter’s] entire body was black and bruised and she was murdered, so we’re not satisfied with just 10 years,” the deceased’s mother told Kumudra.
“At least they didn’t let him go free. As for taking the case up to the district or supreme courts, my husband is a civil servant, so it’s difficult for us to get the time to make each trip [to the courts].”
The deceased’s father echoed his wife’s sentiments, and pleaded that additional charges be brought in so that the sentence could be extended: “Our daughter’s body was completely ruined; she had blood coming out of her nose and her stomach was covered in bruises. Can’t additional charges be applied here? We lost our daughter.”
