Father jailed after admitting responsibility for son's forklift death

A father whose six-year-old son was killed in a forklift accident has been jailed after admitting responsibility for the child's death.

The High Court in Suva sentenced Savenaca Damuni to two years and eight months' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter arising from a breach of duty.

The court heard on Tuesday that Damuni was reversing a forklift on May 2, 2023, when he accidentally struck his son.

The boy suffered severe injuries and later died from multiple brain injuries.

Damuni will serve six months in prison, with the remaining 26 months suspended for five years.

While delivering sentence, Justice Dane Tuiqereqere said the court had taken into account Damuni's early guilty plea in determining the final sentence.

Justice Tuiqereqere said he was satisfied the manslaughter charge arose from a breach of duty.

He also noted that the maximum penalty for manslaughter arising from a breach of duty is 25 years' imprisonment.