Indonesian prosecutors seek 20-year term in cyanide murder

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesian prosecutors recommended a 20-year jail term on Wednesday for an Indonesian woman charged with murdering a former classmate at an Australian school.

Former Australian resident Jessica Kumala Wongso is accused of poisoning Wayan Mirna Salihin, a fellow student at Billy Blue College of Design in Sydney, who collapsed and died Jan. 6 after drinking coffee ordered by the defendant at a Jakarta cafe. Police say laboratory tests showed the drink contained cyanide.

Wongso has denied any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors told the court Wednesday that Wongso had committed premeditated murder but had not confessed or expressed remorse. They say Wongso committed the crime because of the victim’s advice that she sever her relationship with her troublesome boyfriend.

Wongso’s lawyers have ridiculed the prosecution’s contention that Salihin’s advice led to the murder. They said the explanation “could not be accepted by common sense.”

A total of 46 witnesses, including the victim’s father, husband and twin sister as well as cafe employees and experts, have testified at the trial, which began June 15 at Central Jakarta District Court.