FOR the offence of murder, there is only one mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. The court may fix a minimum term to be served before a pardon may be considered by the President of Fiji.
High Court judge Justice Salesi Temo highlighted this on Tuesday while sentencing three men to life imprisonment for the murder of John Leonard Dass between between August 21 and 22, 2010, in Lautoka. The three — Rafaele Noa, Ilivasi Navunicagi and Eparama Tamanivakabauta — were also convicted of aggravated robbery.
In handing down the sentence Justice Temo said all the accused persons broke into Dass’ house and forcefully stole property worth more than $3000. During the robbery, Dass was strangled to death by the men.
Sireli Lilo was acquitted of the murder of Dass, but convicted of manslaughter and also aggravated robbery. The fifth accused — Iliesa Vakabua — was acquitted of the murder and manslaughter, but was convicted for the charge of aggravated robbery.
All convicted persons were present in court except for Navunicagi, who absconded on October 30, 2013, and has not appeared in court since then. He was tried in absentia.
Noa, Navunicagi and Tamanivakabauta were handed a mandatory life imprisonment, with 20 years minimum term to be served, before a pardon may be considered.
Lilo, who is a serving prisoner, was handed a 14-year jail term with a non-parole period of 13 years imprisonment, effective forthwith, and this is to be concurrent to any prison term presently served.
Vakabua will spend 12 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
