Man jailed for 4 years for sisters death

A man has been sentenced to 4 years imprisonment after being convicted of manslaughter by the High Court.

Alipate Rarawa assaulted his sister in Bau, Tailevu in January last year and she died a few days later.

High Court Judge, Justice Paul Madigan says Rarawa had heard that his sister, on the suggestion of his mother, had approached a paternal uncle for help in providing mats for their brother’s upcoming wedding.

At about 9pm on the 6th of January last year, Rarawa went to his mother and sister and started arguing with them on why they had approached the paternal uncle as the father had deserted the family over 20 years ago. His sister then swore at him.

Rarawa ran into the kitchen and upturned a frying pan with boiling oil onto his sister’s legs and stomach. He also kicked the kerosene stove which landed on her and set her alight.

She died of 70% burns.

Justice Madigan says it is an aggravation that these horrific actions were effected in the presence of his sister’s other family members including children.

The judge says he accepts that for a young Itaukei male to be sworn at by his sister and called names implying his lack of worth and laziness, coupled with what he perceived to be a treacherous assault on the family understanding of no contact with paternal relatives are matters which can only have been seriously provocative. He says in addition to that, the sister was seemingly rejecting Rarawa’s authority in being able to organize the wedding.

Justice Madigan deducted a term of two years imprisonment to recognize those circumstances.

Rarawa will serve a sentence of 4 years imprisonment for this offence with a minimum term of three years before he is to be considered for parole