Fifty-six-year-old Febianus Tibo's face turned red. Known as the Butcher of Poso, he was visibly shocked. The team of prosecutors had called for the death sentence for him and his two friends, Dominggus Da Silva, 37, and Marinus Riwu, 43.

At the Palu District Court in Central Sulawesi, the prosecutors said the three defendants were guilty of premeditated murder in the Poso III incident, which occurred in May and June 2000.

Thunderous applause c