Two murderers of an editor from the Iron Rose Journal in Pazundaung Township, Yangon Region, have been sentenced to 20 years each in prison and the wife of one convict to six years in prison plus labour, according to East District Court.

Aung Ko Ko and Pyae Thu Naing @ Phaya Pwe were charged under Section 302 (2) of the Penal Code of Myanmar.

Section 302 (2) of the law states anyone who commits murder in any other case shall be punished with transportation for life, or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Al Ni, wife of Aung Ko Ko was charged under Section 202. She has now been released as she was entitled to the custody period for her trail.

The verdicts came after nearly two years of court hearing.

In connection with the murder case, a person in the neighborhood of a flat in Pazundaung Township where the journal house was located informed the father of Wai Yan Hein about an unpleasant smell from the flat on April 16, 2017. Later, Wai Yan Hein was found dead with knife wounds. According to investigation, the slain man received 15 knife wounds.

Wai Yan Hein was said to have been frequently dating Al Ni @ Rosy Ko after getting to know each other on Facebook. The woman was Aung Ko Ko, who worked as a sailor, according to a police statement.

Following such social problems, Aung Ko Ko and Wai Yan Hein argued at the journal house and the former killed the latter with a knife from the desk. Aung Ko Ko was arrested on April 21. His accomplice Pyae Thu Naing was captured on April 22.