Highlands Tragedy: Is She The Key Witness?

She may be the only witness to what happened to five of her family members in the Nausori Highlands.

But she certainly is not old enough to tell anyone about what happened in the treacherous mountain region more than a week ago.

Did one-year-old Samaira see her family members’ dying, or was she left there after the five bodies were presumably dumped where they were found on the morning of August 26?

If the killings happened the previous night (Sunday) or if the bodies were dumped there on that night, then how could the baby have survived the misty and cold night in the mountains until she was discovered the next morning?

This is not forgetting reports that the bodies were discovered a few metres away from the edge of a cliff.

Or was little Samaira left there when the killer or killers came to check later at night or before sunrise on Monday whether the five victims were dead or alive after giving them some kind of poisonous food or drink?

Samaira. Photo: Mereleki Nai

Suspects

A Fijian couple who have Permanent Residency in New Zealand are persons of Police interest in the five deaths and they were questioned by Police last week.

The High Court in Lautoka refused an application by Police, through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to keep the suspects in custody until September 3 for interrogation, thus resulting in them being released at the expiry of the 48-hour time frame.

However, the court issued a stop departure order against the couple who are believed to be living at Legalega, in the same neighbourhood as the deceased family.

Police investigations

It is one of those big cases that have come into the Police records in recent years and answers are still being sought by the grieving family members and the public.

While there are many stories going around regarding the tragedy in the highlands, Police are tightlipped on the investigations, saying they do not want to divulge much information on the case as investigators carry out their work.

Edited by Susana Tuilau

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