Man charged over alleged assault of five-year-old niece resulting in death

The alleged assault and death of a five-year-old girl was among serious criminal cases filed in Fiji’s High Courts in April, according to statistics released by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

The ODPP said a 52-year-old man was charged with one count of manslaughter after allegedly assaulting his five-year-old niece in 2024, resulting in her death.

The case was among 16 indictments involving 36 counts of non-sexual offences filed in April. The matters involved 27 accused persons and 21 victims.

The monthly statistics also showed several violent domestic violence-related cases.

A 32-year-old man was charged with two counts of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm after allegedly assaulting his de facto partner with firewood and pouring boiling water on her body.

In another case, a 45-year-old man was charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and criminal intimidation after allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill his 39-year-old wife.

The ODPP also reported two attempted murder cases.

In one matter, four people were charged with the attempted murder of a 61-year-old man. They were also charged with damaging property, assault causing actual bodily harm, and kidnapping a 20-year-old woman and the 61-year-old man. The ODPP said the charges were initially filed as acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm before being upgraded to attempted murder following a review of evidence.

In another case, two men were charged with the attempted murder of a 30-year-old man. Charges against one accused were later discontinued due to insufficient evidence.

The report also outlined several violent assault cases. In one, a 19-year-old man is alleged to have set another man on fire using benzene, causing burns.

Other offences filed during the month included aggravated robbery, burglary, arson, kidnapping, drug-related offences, breach of bail and sacrilege.

Among them was a case involving two men accused of robbing a 67-year-old female taxi driver of $130 while she was travelling into the city.

A separate sacrilege case involved a 49-year-old man accused of breaking into a temple and damaging prayer idols.

The ODPP confirmed three cases were discontinued after nolle prosequi applications were filed due to insufficient evidence and immunity offers.