THE 35-year-old surf instructor who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of an Australian tourist in 2014 wanted her dead so that he could be a shareholder in the business that she set up.

In court documents released yesterday, convicted murderer, Lloyd Richard Senikaucava, said he had been told to “kill her then I can get back into business again”.

“That motivated me to press her throat very hard using both thumbs until there were no other movements,” he said.

“But she was still breathing then I used my outer side of my right foot on her neck to suffocate her.

“After a while I removed my foot at that time she was not moving and not breathing.”

The cold-blooded murder was read out in court while the 35-year-old was being sentenced to a lifetime behind jail with his eligibility for parole only considered after he served 16 years of the sentence.

Justice Aruna Aluthge said the accused demonstrated a high level of violent behaviour when he attacked the deceased.

He said the deceased fell unconscious when she was first punched on the face by Senikaucava before he proceeded to suffocate her.

According to the court, the victim was in a relationship with accused’s uncle and was planning to invest in Fiji in collaboration with an Australian businessman.

The accused, who had five previous convictions, took an interest in the business and was involved with it but was not happy with the returns and benefits he was getting from the victim.

Senikaucava was given 30 days to appeal.