Man jailed for life for murdering pregnant wife

A man who brutally stabbed his pregnant wife to death in front of their four-year-old daughter has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with no eligibility for parole for 20 years, nine months and three weeks.

The High Court in Suva sentenced 31-year-old Apisai Madigibuli after finding him guilty of murdering his wife, Kitiana Baravilala, who was about six months pregnant, at an apartment on Robertson Road, Suva, on April 24, 2024.

Delivering the sentence, Justice Dane Tuiqereqere said the murder was motivated by resentment, revenge and jealousy after Baravilala had moved on with her life.

Justice Tuiqereqere said the offending fell within the highest category because it was premeditated, committed in a domestic violence context and carried out in the presence of the couple's young daughter.

The court heard that Madigibuli bought a knife, sharpened it and took it to the apartment intending to kill his wife.

Justice Tuiqereqere said Madigibuli had abused the trust placed in him as Baravilala's husband and had taken not only her life but also the life of their unborn child.

The court also noted the lasting trauma suffered by the couple's four-year-old daughter, who witnessed the attack, and the devastating impact the murder had on Baravilala's family.

Justice Tuiqereqere increased the minimum non-parole period because of several aggravating factors, including the planning involved, the victim's pregnancy and the presence of the child during the attack.

Although Madigibuli received credit for time already spent in custody and for limited mitigating factors, the judge said he had shown no remorse and continued to deny responsibility despite admitting his involvement during a police interview.

Following sentencing, Madigibuli was heard singing and laughing as corrections officers escorted him from the courtroom.

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