DEPUTY Chief Magistrate Sheppard Lapo has reiterated in court yesterday that anyone committing a domestic criminal violence offence will receive an immediate custodial sentence.

Magistrate Lapo made the statement when handing down his sentence on a man charged with two counts of common assaults.

The man Stephen Anuka was guilty for assaulting two female victims in relation to incidents which occurred on January 14 and May 12 of last year.

The prosecution said the accused had a defacto relationship with the two victims when the incidents happened.

Magistrate Lapo in his ruling said the occurrences are related to domestic violence and the increase of prevalent domestic violence in the country is alarming and its frequencies nearly committed in every homes.

Though giving credit for the accused guilty plea in serving court’s time and resources, the sentence imposed must reflect the seriousness of the offence and to deter others from committing similar offence in the future, Magistrate Lapo added

“It is therefore whoever physical and sexual abuses his wife by living with her in a defacto relationship or custom marriages fences or even in the church against his wife is expected for an immediately custodial sentences,” Magistrate Lapo said.

Taking into account all submission made the both the prosecution and the defence lawyer the court impose for count one six months imprisonment and for count two 12 months imprisonment.

However he made orders that the sentences be run concurrent to count two and that means the accused will spend 12 months and period spent in custody will be taken into account.

The accused Mr Anuka has other charges as well therefore his other outstanding cases will proceeds for trial on September 4 to 8 of this year in the Honiara Magistrate Court.

Defence Lawyer Daniel Kwalai also mentioned in Court yesterday that he will be making a bail application for his client on the next occasion.