Sydney stabbing victim’s wife calls for compassion amid rumours

Grief-stricken and heartbroken, the widow of the late Epi Naitini has called for compassion as she mourns the loss of her husband.

Ilisapeci Naitini has strongly denied reports claiming her husband was involved in a love affair that allegedly led to a fatal stabbing in western Sydney, Australia.

She said international media reports and rumours circulating on social media describing the deaths of her husband and Anaseini Waqavuki as a “love triangle gone wrong” had caused pain to her family as they struggled to come to terms with his sudden death.

Naitini, 30, was found on a footpath outside Ms Waqavuki’s Illabo Street home in Quakers Hill with stab wounds to his stomach and hands. He was rushed to hospital but died a few hours later.

Both Naitini and Waqavuki were allegedly stabbed by Waqavuki’s former partner, Anare Vunitabua, 47, just before 5am on Sunday.

'A family man'

The late Mr Naitini was originally from Nabudrau, Noco, in Rewa.

Mrs Naitini, who hails from Yalava, Sasa in Macuata, said she and her husband communicated every single day.

Reflecting on their married life yesterday, Mrs Naitini said she wished time could rewind so she could hear her husband’s voice again.

She said she missed his video calls in the early hours of Sunday morning, around 1.30am, just hours before the alleged stabbing.

Mrs Naitini said her husband was a loving and caring man who remained closely connected to his family despite being overseas.

“We spoke all the time. Every day we checked on each other and the children. Distance never broke our bond,” she said.

The couple last spoke on Saturday via video call, the eve of his tragic death.

“He called to check on our children, as he normally does. That was all, he just wanted to know that they were okay,” she shared.

She confirmed that she also had a good relationship with the late Ms Waqavuki as they always spoke to each other on video calls with her late husband.

"On Saturday, they were having a grog session. Anaseini said hello to my children and my husband also introduced another man whom he said was his best friend."

“It hurts so much to read and hear people saying my husband was unfaithful,” she said. “That is not the man I knew and loved.”

“When Epi called, we would greet each other and she would even talk to our children,” Mrs Naitini said.

“She was just Epi’s best friend, nothing more and that is the only relationship I know of.”

Dreams cut short

The couple married in December 2022 and have two young children together: Lavenia Kaloubula Naitini, 7, and Karalaini Tabua Naitini, 2.

Ms Naitini said they first met while studying at university and later built a life together based on trust and shared dreams.

“I stayed home to look after our children while Epi went overseas to study as a technician and work at the same time, to support us,” she said.

She said her husband never failed to provide for the family.

“Every week, Epi sent money home. He always made sure we were okay,” she said.

Now, those plans and promises have been cruelly cut short.

“My children will now grow up without their father, and I must learn to be both mother and father to them,” Ms Naitini said.

In a heart-wrenching post, Mrs Naitini shared: “It hurts that he is gone, but I give God all the glory for a life well lived. Thank you, Epi, my love, for all that you have done for our family. It is true that I will not hear your voice again, but I thank you for all the big and little things we have been through together.”

A former law student at the Fiji National University in Nasinu, Ms Naitini said she now hopes to continue her studies in 2026 and find work to support her children and extended family.

Meanwhile, the family of Mr Naitini is now waiting for post-mortem examinations to be completed in Australia.

The process must be finalised before the bodies can be released and brought back to Fiji for burial.

As the investigation continues, Ms Naitini has pleaded with the public to stop spreading rumours and show compassion.

Feedback: rariqi.turner@fijisun.com.fj