Taxi driver sentenced to life imprisonment

A taxi driver convicted of attempted murder of his mistress was sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court in Labasa.

Sanjeshwar Chand charged with one count of attempted murder appeared before Judge Justice Lee James Burney.

Background of the case

The court heard that on December 12, 2022, the victim, Neha Chand was 22 years of age and working as a sales assistant in Labasa while he was 42-year-old married man working as a taxi driver.

He picked up the victim in his taxi and drove to a secluded place where after a sexual activity, he struck her neck three to four times with a cane knife.

When she raised her hands to protect her neck, it got badly injured as he continued to chop her.

She then fell face down on the ground and pretended that she was dead by holding her breath.

The offender checked whether she was alive or dead by placing his finger under Neha’s nose before driving away in his taxi.

Sentencing

Judge Justice Burney said domestic violence offences were regarded as particularly serious within the criminal justice system.

He accepted State counsel Taitusi Tuenuku submission on the number of factors which made the accused’s offending more serious.

Such as Sanjeshwar breached his mistress’ trust and there was a degree of planning in which he waited for Neha to be unaware and vulnerable before slashing her with a cane knife.

Thirdly, he said Neha suffered serious long-term injuries and was bound to have suffered significant psychological harm.

And fourthly, he used a deadly weapon.

Judge Justice Burney said it was only Neha’s instinct for survival, and her quick thinking in defending herself and then playing dead, that saved her from certain death.

Then he said after the trial he was sure that Sanjeshwar’s attempt on Neha’s life has caused her

serious, life-changing and enduring harm.

Hence, he sentenced him to life imprisonment and fixed 18 years’ imprisonment as his minimum term.

Having regard to the time he has spent in custody pending disposal of this matter, the balance of his minimum term is now 17 years and four months.

He was represented by Jiten Reddy Lawyers Jitendra Reddy and Khalid Hassan.