DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP) – A Briton convicted of murdering a traffic policeman on the tourist island of Bali, Indonesia, came out of prison on Thursday after serving his sentence.
David Taylor, who promoted himself as DJ Nutzo originally from Halifax, and his Australian girlfriend, Sara Connor, were arrested in August 2016 for fatally attacking the officer, Wayan Sudarsa. His bloody body was found on the beach in front of the Pullman Hotel, in the popular tourist area of Kuta.
Taylor, 38, admitted hitting the policeman several times with a cell phone, binoculars and a broken beer bottle, leaving him face down and unconscious. But he said he did not know that Sudarsa would die. He showed remorse and apologized.
They were accused of committing violence that led to death, with a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.
During the trial, Connor, who faced the same charge, said she was not an active participant in the attack. But judges found that her role prevented Sudarsa, a member of the Bali police force for 35 years, from defending herself.
Prosecutors sought eight-year prison terms for Taylor and Connor, but a court in March 2017 sentenced Taylor to six years and Connor to four years. She appealed and a higher court extended her sentence to five years.
Taylor, wearing a mask, black T-shirt and carrying his guitar, was escorted on Thursday by a crowd of reporters outside Kerobokan prison in Denpasar, the provincial capital of Bali, in a car that took him to the airport. He made no comment.
He received a total of 18 months and 15 days of reduced sentence, which are often granted to prisoners on major holidays because of their good conduct, said Fikri Jaya, the director of Kerobokan prison.
“Taylor is also involved in activities organized by correctional officers. He was entitled to a reduction in sentence, ”said Jaya.
He said Taylor will be placed in a detention cell at the immigration office while waiting for a flight to the UK on Thursday night.
Connor, 49, was deported to Australia last July. She did just under four years.
Connor and Taylor were drinking beer on the beach hours before the early morning incident. Taylor said he had a fight with Sudarsa, who was on duty, after Connor realized she had lost her purse and accused Sudarsa of being a fake police officer and stealing him.