Vakarisi family welcomes murder probe, demands full accountability

The family of the late Jone Vakarisi has welcomed police confirmation that his death is now being investigated as murder, describing it as an important step toward truth and justice.

In a statement released yesterday, the mother of Vakarisi’s children, Ms Kuini Osborne, said the family would cooperate fully with police throughout the investigation.

“We acknowledge and welcome the confirmation by police that the death of Mr Jone Vakarisi is now being investigated as a murder case,” Ms Osborne said.

The family has also raised serious concerns about discrepancies between the military’s official account of his death and the certified medical findings.

According to the death certificate, which the Fiji Police Force confirmed is an official document, Vakarisi’s cause of death was asphyxia — a condition caused by lack of oxygen.

Contributing factors included aspiration of gastric contents, severe traumatic brain injury, multiple blunt force trauma, and assault listed as an external contributing factor.

This contradicts the Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ (RFMF) earlier statement that he suffered a sudden medical emergency during questioning.

The family also disputed the RFMF’s account of how he was taken, saying Vakarisi was collected from Mead Road Housing in Nabua after 8pm, not from the family home as previously implied.

Ms Osborne called for a fully independent investigation, full disclosure of all medical and forensic records, and accountability for any actions that contributed to his death.

“The father of my children’s life mattered. He was more than a name in a report. He was a father and a son,” she said.

Police investigations are ongoing.