Mother Charged For Child’s Death
Grace, 5, ran onto the road while accompanied by her mother Aseiri Naivou, This is believed to be one of the first cases where criminal charge has been laid for alleged parental negligence
Thursday 06 January 2022 | 11:55
A tearful Aseiri Naivou at the Lautoka Magistrates Court on January 5, 2022. Photo: Salote Qalubau
A case related to alleged parental negligence has been brought to the Magistrates Court in Lautoka.
In 2020, 5-year-old Grace Ranadi Maramatabua Naisau ran across the road, got hit by an oncoming vehicle and died as a result of the impact.
Yesterday, her mother, Aseiri Naivou, who was with young Grace at the time of the accident, appeared at the Lautoka Magistrates Court charged in relation to her daughter’s death.
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She has been charged with one count of manslaughter arising from breach of duty, and appeared before Magistrate Jagath Hemantha.
She was represented by lawyer Josaia Niudamu.
It is alleged that on September 7, 2020, at Sorokoba in the Western Division, Naivou “made an omission which amounted to a negligent breach of duty by not supervising the late Grace Ranadi Maramatabua Naisau which resulted in her death”.
It is alleged that young Grace was walking in front of her mother, when she ran across the road and was hit by an oncoming vehicle driven by a woman in her 20s from Rarawai, Ba.
Magistrate Hemantha told Mr Niudamu to file a formal bail application for his client at the High Court in Lautoka due to the nature of the offence.
The matter has been adjourned to January 19 for mention and Naivou was further remanded in custody.
