Child killer jailed for life

The High Court in Suva has sentenced Sairusi Ceinaturaga to life imprisonment for the murder of his one-year-old stepson in Cunningham last year, ordering that he must serve a minimum of 18 years before he can be considered for a presidential pardon.

Ceinaturaga, 37, was convicted of one count of murder, one count of assault causing actual bodily harm, and one count of an act intended to cause grievous harm.

He was also sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for assaulting his former partner, the child’s mother. Both sentences are to be served concurrently.

The court heard that Ceinaturaga hit the child with a cooking spoon, struck his head against a wall, and then threw him onto a mattress. He also pleaded guilty to striking his de facto partner across the face.

Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull, in delivering the sentence, said there was no evidence of premeditation.

However, she noted that both crimes were committed in a domestic setting and in front of children, making the offending “very serious”.

She told the court that domestic violence against spouses and children “will not be tolerated at all”.

Evidence revealed that Ceinaturaga and the victim’s mother met on social media before deciding to move in together. The offending occurred in October last year.

Ceinaturaga has spent 13 months in remand, which the court took into account. He has 30 days to appeal his sentence.