Son who tried to burn father alive avoids jail

A man who poured fuel inside his father's home and threatened to burn him alive has walked free from the High Court in Suva after his three-year prison sentence was suspended.

Titoko Cabobula Nasema, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted arson over the March 21 incident at Nadonumai Settlement, Lami.

Justice Daniel Goundar heard that Nasema doused the living room of his 68-year-old father, Temo Nasema's house with premix fuel and set it alight while his father was inside.

The court heard that the father and son had been drinking before an argument escalated. Nasema threatened to burn the house down with his father inside, poured fuel in the living room and ignited it with a lighter.

His mother and neighbours extinguished the blaze before it caused significant damage. Nasema also pulled his father from the burning house.

Justice Goundar said the offending was serious because it endangered the life of the accused's elderly father.

However, the judge also took into account several mitigating factors, including that Nasema was a first-time offender, had stopped drinking alcohol since the incident and had become the primary caregiver for his elderly parents.

The court also heard that the family had reconciled, with his father giving evidence that he had forgiven his son.

Justice Goundar imposed a three-year prison sentence but suspended it. A permanent Domestic Violence Restraining Order was also issued, although Nasema was not excluded from living at the family home.