Man jailed for attacking wife in front of children with metal stake

A 41-year-old man who repeatedly attacked his wife with a metal stake in front of their young children has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by the High Court in Lautoka earlier this week.

Vonivate Naluveya Tauvoli pleaded guilty to one count of an act with intent to cause grievous harm when he appeared before Justice Aruna Aluthge.

On December 7 last year, at Velovelo, Lautoka, Tauvoli unlawfully wounded his wife, Kelera Muailasekula, by striking her several times with a metal stake used for husking coconuts.

According to agreed facts presented in court, the incident happened after an argument when Tauvoli told his wife he did not want to care for their three-year-old child while she went to work.

The victim then told Tauvoli that if he did not want to care for the children, she would leave with them and live elsewhere.

The court heard Tauvoli became angry, went outside, picked up the metal stake and repeatedly attacked her on the hand, thigh, body and head.

Their 10-year-old and eight-year-old sons pleaded with Tauvoli to stop during the assault.

The victim ran from the house and neighbours took her to hospital for treatment.

Medical findings presented in court showed she suffered a three-centimetre cut to the head, a deformity to her left hand, bruising around the right eye and bruising to her left thigh.

In sentencing, Justice Aluthge said domestic violence remained a serious concern in Fiji and offenders must receive punishment reflecting society’s condemnation of such behaviour.

The judge said Tauvoli breached trust within the matrimonial relationship, caused serious injuries and carried out the attack in front of the couple’s children.

The court considered several mitigating factors, including Tauvoli’s early guilty plea, co-operation with Police, remorse and previous clean record.

Justice Aluthge initially set a starting sentence of two years imprisonment but increased it to four years because of aggravating factors.

The court partially suspended the sentence, ordering Tauvoli to serve 12 months in prison while the remaining 12 months were suspended for three years.

Tauvoli has 30 days to appeal the sentence.

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