Ni Komang Erviani , The Jakarta Post , Bali

The Denpasar District Court on Wednesday sentenced Australian national Joshua Ronald Terelinck to two and half months in jail for causing the road death of Balinese student I Putu Agus Andryatna.

“The defendant, through inattention when riding a motorcycle, ended another life,” presiding judge Sukanila said.

Prosecutors had demanded that the court sentence Terelinck to five months in jail. The 33-year-old man, who was arrested on Oct. 8, will walk free shortly before Christmas.

The judges opted for a more lenient sentence in light of Terelinck’s commendable behavior. “The defendant openly admitted his wrongdoing, demonstrated guilt and showed remorse over the accident,” Sukanila said.

The two motorcycles collided at around 2 a.m. on July 9 at an intersection in Abianbase village in Badung regency. Terelinck, who also sustained injuries, returned to Perth for treatment, while the Balinese man died eight days later.

Terelinck decided to return to Bali in October to meet the victim’s family, as well as answer a police summons related to the case.

(This story has been published at The Jakarta Post on Dec 17, 2015)