When 15-year-old Salote Sikiti Vosabeci stepped out of her home last Tuesday to buy juice from a nearby shop, her guardian never thought that would be the last time she would see her.
The teenager was allegedly hacked to death by a cane knife-wielding man a short while later.
The alleged chilling incident at Naqali Village in Naitasiri had left villagers numb, many still shocked.
Vinau Vosabeci, the guardian of the Year 10 student of Dilkusha High School, said she had been looking after the girl after her parents separated.
Ms Vosabeci, who is physically challenged and uses crutches to get around, said Salote was her helping hand.
“Salote had finished communal work with other villagers and had gone to the shop to buy fruit juice,” she said.
“She never returned.”
Ms Vosabeci claimed there had been several previous incidents in which the accused had threatened villagers.
“He threatened kids and youths, but we never thought it would turn out like this,” she claimed.
Village ‘matanivanua’ (herald) Sikeli Nailauota, 53, said the alleged incident happened while they were resting after their communal work.
“Only a few people witnessed it,” Mr Nailauota said.
The first, a minor, claimed the suspect threatened the victim and then allegedly attacked her with the cane knife.
“I heard him swearing at Salote and throwing the cane knife at her,” the witness claimed.
The second witness, Jona Talemailodoni, 29, said he too was resting after lunch when he heard the victim’s cry for help.
“I ran towards Salote to help her evade the suspect, but she slipped and that’s when the accused started hacking at her.”
He said when he reached Salote, she was lying motionless with multiple gashes on her arms, hands and head.
