High Court Judge, Justice Salesi Temo will sentence 40-year-old security officer, Josua Colanaudolu at 11.30am today after he was convicted of one count of murder, 6 counts of rape, 1 count of abduction and one count of indecently annoying a female.
Colanaudolu has been found guilty of abducting, raping and murdering the 14‑year‑old girl in Deuba in March last year.
Colanaudolu was also raping three women since the 1990s and they came forward after the girl’s death. They said that they did not come forward in the past as he continued to threaten them that he would kill them.
Assistant DPP, Lee Burney had asked for life sentence and a minimum term of 30 years imprisonment for Colanaudolu.
Justice Temo then asked Burney whether a 30 year minimum term will be enough to protect the community at large.
The presiding judge said that he recently gave a minimum term of 28 years in the case where 5 people were killed in Nakasi.
Burney said that they will go for a minimum of 30 years.
Justice Temo then asked Colanaudolu’s age and it was confirmed that it is 40.
Defence lawyer, Michael Fesaitu said that the judge should not fix a minimum term.
Justice Temo then told Fesaitu whether he wants all mothers of 14 year old girls in Fiji to hang the judge.
Fesaitu maintained that they do not want the court to set a minimum term.
Stay with us for Colanaudolu’s sentencing later this morning.
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