Man charged over death of 16-year-old in Naqali appears in court

Police have confirmed that a 43-year-old man charged in relation to the death of Salote Sikiti, 16, appeared in the Nausori Magistrates Court on Friday.

Ratu Samu Da Salusalu was produced before Magistrate Thompson Kelevi Lee, charged with one count of murder following an incident in Naqali Village, Naitasiri, last Tuesday.

The court ordered that a psychiatric evaluation be conducted on the accused. He has been remanded in custody and will reappear in court next Monday.

Meanwhile, a homegoing service was held at Naqali Village on Saturday, where Salote was laid to rest alongside her uncle and guardian, Mosese Vosabeci, 50.

Wailing echoed through the village as family members, classmates from Dilkusha Girls School and villagers gathered, struggling to come to terms with the loss of a young life and the man who helped raise her.

Salote had been under the care of Vosabeci and Vinau Lakitoga since she was three years old, and they had acted as her parents for the past 13 years.

It is understood that Vosabeci died early Friday morning, shortly after Salote’s death. A villager said he had fainted twice on the day Salote died, overwhelmed by the news.

Ms Lakitoga told this newspaper that the couple had previously raised two other children — one who later died from illness, while the other was returned to his biological parents.

She said life had changed forever as she grieved the loss of both Salote and Vosabeci.