A Labasa defacto couple, convicted of  murder, were yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment.

The judge in the High Court of Labasa, Justice Paul Madigan, said the couple must serve 20 years before they could apply for pardon.

Besun Deo and Shareen Raj had pleaded not guilty.

But the court found that on January 13 last year, they murdered Parma Nand, a labourer, at Wailevu Tiri in Labasa.

The 42-year-old deceased was the estranged husband of Shareen, who after leaving him entered into a relationship with the accused, Besun.

The court heard that the divorce proceedings between Shareen and Parma were being contested over matrimonial property and custody of the one child.

The protracted nature of these proceedings appeared to severely irk Besun.

In considering the gravity of this case and its seriousness, Justice Madigan determined that it was an appropriate case in which to set a minimum term on both accused before they could apply for pardon.

“They acted jointly and were charged and tried jointly so they will suffer jointly,” he said.

“I make no difference in the exercise of my discretion.

“They will each suffer the loss of seeing their only child (one boy each) grow to maturity.”

He said the facts brought forth in the trial showed ruthless, cynical and determined agreement to do away with the deceased who was perceived to be an impediment to couple’s happiness.

He further explained that the two accused set out in pursuance of a premeditated plan using deceit to lure him to a totally deserted place and set upon him.

He said by throwing the deceased in a swamp when he had been incapacitated was not only reckless in the extreme but showed a clear intention to kill.

Justice Madigan said it was a very serious murder indeed.

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

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