Death Of Young Man Shocks Family

Adi Kere Leleiwasa said while her family waited for the postmortem results of her late nephew, Timoci Lusio Tikomainiusiladi, she questioned the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death and body discovery last Sunday in the Natabua Creek under the tramline.

“We are just waiting for the postmortem because the area where he had fallen, the water was shallow. When his postmortem report comes out, then we will sit as a family and discuss the funeral arrangements,” she said.

Ms Leleiwasa said her nephew was affectionately known by many as ‘Jim’ and she raised the 18-year-old in her Natokawaqa, Lautoka home after his parents separated.

“He took a part of my heart, and his death has really weakened me because I raised him from an early age here at home,” she said.

“From when he went missing on Sunday to Monday, I never slept, I couldn’t eat properly. When my oldest sibling died, we were at peace, but Jim suddenly left me that day and when I called him, he told me he would come back. That was the last time I heard from him.”

Ms Leleiwasa said she vividly remembered the last clothing Mr Tikomainiusiladi wore which was later the determining factor behind identifying his body.

“All his cousins from Namoli came home to visit on Saturday and he came home to bath. The last clothes he wore had been hanging on the line, he asked me if he could wear them,” she said.

“he told me he would go and play volleyball then come back and stay with the family, but after that, he went with a friend to Natabua in the afternoon. We don’t know what happened after.”

“On Sunday morning when I woke up, I came to tidy his beddings and I saw he was still gone. I asked one of my relatives to go and check at the Police station,” she said.

Police investigate

She said the Police arrived after 10am on Sunday to ask her questions concerning her late nephew.

“They asked what relation I had with Jim, and I said I’m his aunt and I raised him. They also asked when the last time was, I saw him and I said Saturday; then they asked what clothes he was wearing and I said he wore a yellow vest and green pants then they showed me the photo of the back of his head.

“My heart was still not at peace, so I asked that we identify his body because some boys usually change t-shirts. Then they took a picture of his full face, and it was him. I couldn’t believe it.”

She said her late nephew was an obedient and quiet young man.

“He never followed the wrong crowd and wasn’t a drunkard; he just stayed put and we never heard that he was ever arrested or broke curfew,” she said.

“When the news was relayed to his group of friends, they never believed it. His friends cried, they never expected this to happen.”

The late Mr Tikomainiusiladi is survived by his younger brother, aunt, and parents.

Police Media officer Wame Bautolu said: “Investigation continues as we await postmortem. No arrests yet. For now, a few people have given their statement to Police.”

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