A man convicted of killing his wife after repeatedly kicking her in the head has been sentenced to almost 12 years in prison by the High Court of Fiji in Labasa.
In delivering the sentence on March 6, Justice Lee Burney sentenced Sairusi Maqosa to 11 years and 11 months imprisonment for manslaughter.
The court heard that on April 24, 2023, Maqosa attacked his wife at a house in Malau, kicking her head three times while she was on the verandah. The third kick knocked her unconscious.
She was later taken to Labasa Hospital where doctors found she had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. Despite emergency surgery to remove a large blood clot from her brain, she remained in a vegetative state.
She died on May 23, 2023 from complications related to the injuries.
Justice Burney said the case occurred in the context of domestic violence, describing it as a serious problem that destroys families and causes lasting trauma to victims and their children.
The court found Maqosa’s culpability to be high, noting that he deliberately inflicted serious violence on his wife and breached the trust that exists within a family relationship.
The judge also considered aggravating factors including the sustained attack, the suffering caused to the victim, and Maqosa’s previous conviction for assault against his wife.
Justice Burney said no sentence could equal the harm caused by taking the life of his wife and depriving their children of their mother.
Maqosa was given a non-parole period of seven years and 11 months, after the court deducted one month for time already spent in custody.
