You are 40-years-old, please do not commit any crimes and do not let anyone take advantage of you or your circumstances.

That’s the plea from judge Justice Riyaaz Hamza in the High Court in Suva yesterday while sentencing Vika Kelekele Laliqavoka for infanticide.

Laliqavoka, 40, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for three years.

She will also undergo counselling with the Social Welfare Department during the three years.

Justice Humza said: “Due to your circumstances the court has decided to give you a non-custodial sentence.”

On July 18, 2011, Laliqavoka gave birth to a baby boy in the bathroom of her house.

The court heard that she had gone to the bathroom to have her shower when she felt a sharp pain.

She described it as if someone had poked her with a needle on her lower back.

She told the court that she was still in a standing position when she felt something fall off.

Laliqavoka had told the court that it was her baby that had fallen. She then tried to sit down and later became unconcious.

When she had regained consciousness she looked at her new born baby lying face downwards. She then held her baby who wasn’t moving nor breathing. It was further stated that she tried to open the baby’s mouth by pressing his nose, however the baby didn’t respond.

The aggravating factors were that the offence resulted in the loss of life of her newborn baby, she showed no regard to the newborn baby’s right to life and after committing the act she attempted to conceal the death of the baby by wrapping him in a cloth, thereafter putting him inside a brown bag.

The mitigating factors considered by the court were that she was a first offender, she co-operated with the Police, and was remorseful for her actions.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

Feedback:  jessica.savike@fijisun.com.fj