A 33-year-old man, who inflicted no fewer than 30 knife wounds on a renowned doctor before leaving him to bleed to death in his Namaka home, was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday with a minimum term of 21 years before he can be considered for a pardon.
Ratu Peceli Rosotokaicake Rokoravolo was sentenced by Justice Aruna Aluthge in the High Court at Lautoka after being convicted of the murder of Dr Isireli Biumaitotoya, a former medical school gold medallist, private practitioner, and social media figure.
The court heard Ratu Peceli, while maintaining a de facto family, engaged in a concurrent same-sex relationship with Dr Biumaitotoya and relied on him for financial support.
On the night between August 31 and September 1, 2025, a dispute over demands for money escalated, culminating in Rokoravolo grabbing a knife from the bedroom and carrying out a savage attack.
Justice Aluthge said the pathologist had never encountered such severe head wounds in his career.
Ratu Peceli then fled in Dr Biumaitotoya’s car, evading arrest for a week while fabricating defences.
Addressing the courtroom, Rokoravolo turned to the victim’s family to seek their forgiveness.
In a victim impact statement read in open court, the deceased’s sister, Leba Kotoilevuka, spoke directly to the devastating void left behind while offering an unexpected act of grace.
“My brother should still be here. He should still be able to speak to our mother, support his nephews, guide his family, and continue living the life they were stealing from him,” Ms Kotoilevuka’s statement read.
“Yet, despite all the pain, anger, sadness, and loss that we have had to endure, my family and I have made a difficult decision to choose forgiveness.
“Our forgiveness does not mean that we excuse what happened. It does not mean that we have forgotten my brother. Nor does it mean that we believe that offence should go without consequences – forgiveness and justice can exist together.”
Ratu Peceli has 30 days to appeal his sentence.
