Man jailed over fatal Christmas Eve assault

A man who fatally punched another man during a confrontation near Vugalei Cemetery in Lami on Christmas Eve 2023 has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with two years to be served immediately.

Inoke Qalo Loloma was sentenced by Justice Thushara Rajasinghe in the High Court in Suva today after being convicted of manslaughter over the death of a 43-year-old man.

The court heard that both Loloma and the victim were intoxicated when the incident occurred in the early hours of December 24, 2023.

Loloma punched the victim, causing him to fall to the ground. The victim later died from his injuries.

Justice Rajasinghe described manslaughter as a serious offence because it resulted in the loss of a person's life and said the victim's death had a significant impact on his family.

The judge said there was some level of provocation, noting that the victim was intoxicated and lying on a bus stop bench before the confrontation.

However, the court stressed that the violence ultimately claimed a life and warranted a custodial sentence.

Loloma was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with 24 months to be served immediately and the remaining 12 months suspended for three years.