The Supreme Court slapped former Catholic priest Herman Jumat Masan with the death sentence on Tuesday. The panel found Herman guilty of the premeditated murder of Yosephine Kerodok Payong, or widely known as Mery Grace, and two infants from their illicit relationship.

The panel, which consisted of justices Gayus Lumbuun, Timur Manurung and Dudu Duswara, had leveraged the sentence from life in prison. Gayus had reasoned that the death sentence was aimed at creating a deterrent effect.

"I am personally against the death penalty. However, in such a case, we need a deterrent effect so that people cannot easily plan and commit murder, which [I perceived] as rampant lately," he said.

Previously, the prosecutors at Maumere District Court, East Nusa Tenggara, sought the death penalty for Herman. But the judges sentenced him to life in prison. The Kupang High Court later upheld the sentence and handed down a prison sentence.(dic)