A 25-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years and nine months for the murder of Tavua taxi driver Nitesh Kumar Chand.
Justice Samuela Qica sentenced Marika Qovuniceva on August 31 after he was convicted of murder and aggravated robbery.
The court found Qovuniceva and a 16-year-old juvenile planned to rob a taxi driver before Mr Chand accepted their fare on June 1, 2024.
The court heard Mr Chand was strangled with his own seatbelt and repeatedly punched in the head and face before his body was dumped in water under a bridge at Matalevu.
Qovuniceva then drove the stolen taxi towards Suva, sold its taxi meter for $450, and spent part of the proceeds on drinks and snacks.
Justice Qica said the murder was planned, involved extreme, sustained violence, and targeted a vulnerable public service driver.
The judge fixed a 20-year minimum term before deducting 15 months spent in pre-trial custody, leaving 18 years and nine months to be served before a pardon may be considered.
He was also sentenced to 11 years for aggravated robbery, to run concurrently with the life sentence.
