Nazeem Sheeraj Ali shed tears at the High Court in Lautoka yesterday after he was sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena.

Ali, who was charged with one count of murder, was represented by Jasveel Singh while Taitusi Tuenuku appeared for the prosecution.

The particulars of the offence were that on May 7, 2016, in Yalalevu Ba, Ali was drinking wine with the deceased who was his defacto partner.

The two had an argument when Ali took a cane knife and struck the deceased several times on her neck, arms and legs. Ali continued cutting her body parts in the kitchen, packed them in a garbage bag and stored the remaining parts in a drawer.

The court heard that on May 8, 2016, Ali confessed the crime to a friend while seeking assistance to bury the remaining body parts.  The matter was later reported to Police on May 10, 2016, by Ali’s friend.

While delivering sentence, Justice Wimalasena said Ali was in a position of trust as the de facto partner of the deceased.

“You were supposed to provide protection and care for her. Instead, you breached the trust by brutally murdering your partner. The deceased had a daughter and due to your actions she will grow up without a mother,” Justice Wimalasena said.

The life imprisonment carries a minimum term of 19 years to be served before a pardon of the sentence may be considered.

Ali has been given 30 days to appeal his sentence.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback:  salote.qalubau@fijisun.com.fj