Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

A convicted killer released early due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been re-arrested for hacking to death a nine-year-old boy who tried to stop the man from raping his mother.

The young victim was sleeping at home in the subdistrict of Biren Bayuen in the Indonesian province of Aceh when the intruder broke in.

The boy was alone with his mother after his dad had gone night fishing.

The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Samsul, then started to rape the mother and her muffled screams woke the boy from his sleep, according to the news site Coconuts Jakarta.

The boy tried to defend his mum, but Samsul reportedly hacked the boy multiple times with a machete before fleeing with his body, apparently to dispose of the body.

After going into hiding, the police found the suspect on Sunday morning and he allegedly resisted arrest by swinging his machete at cops on the scene.

Officers were forced to shoot the man in the legs three times before detaining him.

Meanwhile, the young victim’s body was found by a river near his home.

Police spokesperson Arief Sukmono said: “His entire body had hack wounds. There were wounds on his arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, chest, fingers, and more.”

He added: “It was really heartbreaking.”

The authorities have yet to formally charge the suspect as the investigation continues.

However, Samsul was one of the thousands of prisoners granted early release due to COVID-19 concerns in Indonesia’s overcrowded prisons.

He had been sentenced to 18 years for murder, but, was allowed to walk free during the pandemic after serving 15 years.

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