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rosecutors have demanded a juvenile accused of participating in the rape and murder last month of 19-year-old Enno Farihah be sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

In a closed-door hearing at the Tangerang District Court in Banten on Friday, prosecutors claimed 16-year-old RA was guilty of raping and killing Enno together with two men identified as Rahmat Arifin and Imam Hapriadi, both 24.

Prosecutor Ikbal Hadjarati told the court that RA’s guilt was proven by the traces of his saliva found on the victim’s body and his fingerprints found at the crime scene.

One of the aggravating factors necessitating a 10-year sentence is the great loss inflicted on the victim’s family, the prosecution went on.

RA is facing multiple charges including premeditated murder, which is punishable by death or life imprisonment. However, since he is still a minor, a 10-year imprisonment is recommended, RA’s lawyer, Slamat Tambunan, told reporters after the hearing.

The 2012 law on juvenile justice system stipulates that an underage suspect can receive, at most, half the maximum adult sentence.

“As such, he naturally cannot be punished with death or a life sentence,” Slamat said.

RA’s lawyers will present their defense on Monday, but Slamat said they would appeal to a higher court if their client was sentenced “to even just a one-day jail term”.

“We are sure RA was not involved in the crime,” he said.

RA was arrested last month on suspicion of raping Enno and killing her with a hoe in Tangerang.

Rahmat and Iman were also arrested, and are currently undergoing separate trials. The court has prioritized RA’s trial because, according to the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP), a minor can only be held in custody for 25 days from being named a suspect.

On Wednesday, Rahmat and Imam testified in court, but prosecution and defense lawyers read out divergent versions of what was said.

Prosecutors on Wednesday claimed the pair had accused RA of involvement in the crime, but RA’s lawyers on Thursday contradicted this, insisting the two men had later clarified that it was not RA who was involved but somebody else they mistakenly took for RA.

In a dossier presented on Tuesday, prosecutors pointed to RA’s apparent involvement in the crime by presenting laboratory test results showing that RA’s saliva was found on the left side of the victim’s breast and his fingerprints found on a wall of the room in which she was killed.

Meanwhile, Friday’s hearing was overshadowed by a rally staged by dozens of Enno’s friends and family, demanding that RA be sentenced to death.

“Kill the defendant,” said one participant. “An eye for an eye, a life for a life,” said another.

The rally participants began to assemble before the court at around 8 a.m., dispersing at around 11:30 a.m. when the hearing was finished. Dozens of police officers were put on standby to prevent the demonstrators from entering the court building.

Cases implicating juveniles tend to draw mixed reactions from the public; some demand penalties as harsh as for adults, while others plead for leniency on grounds of youth.

Last month, the Curup District Court in Bengkulu sentenced seven males aged 16 and 17 years old with 10 years’ imprisonment each for raping and killing a 14-year-old schoolgirl, Yuyun. Yuyun, on her way home from school, was abducted and raped by 14 men before being killed.

The five remaining defendants are all of age and are currently awaiting trial, while two others are still at large.