The mother of the one-year-old child brutally murdered by his stepfather, Sairusi Ceinaturaga, says her surviving son still asks for his deceased brother.
This was revealed in the Victim Impact Statement (VIS) read by prosecutor Unal Lal before the High Court in Suva during Ceinaturaga’s sentencing hearing.
Trial judge Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull earlier found Ceinaturaga guilty of murdering his stepson at Vunidawa Settlement in Cunningham on October 17 last year. He was also convicted of assaulting his de facto partner on the same occasion.
According to the mother’s VIS, she becomes emotional when explaining to her four-year-old-son that his baby brother is no longer alive.
She told the court she would never forgive Ceinaturaga and prayed that God would punish him.
Mr Lal described the murder “extreme brutality” inflicted on a toddler.
In his submissions, Mr Lal said the 37-year-old murdered a child who depended on him for care and protection.
He said even after killing the child in a gruesome manner, Ceinaturaga failed to take him to the hospital, an act that demonstrated his complete lack of remorse.
Mr Lal is seeking a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years.
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Olive Grace argued the case fell under the “high” rather than “extremely high” category because the offence occurred in a domestic setting and involved no weapons.
Ms Grace submitted that the level of harm was “moderate” and that the incident was not premeditated but occurred on an ordinary day.
Sentencing has been set for December 1.
