Four men charged with manslaughter in four separate cases have been handed prison sentences by Suva High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo.
In the first incident, a 24-year-old man of Namosi has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for causing the death of a 59-year-old farmer of Navua earlier this year.
The court heard that on 6th February this year Mikaele Salusalu hit the other man with a bamboo stick, punched and pushed him on rumors that he was practicing witchcraft on his father who got sick.
Justice Temo said there was no scientific proof that the man caused the sickness.
He said Salusalu should have reported the matter to police on the rumors.
In the second case, a 35-year-old bus driver has been sentenced to four years and ten months imprisonment for causing the death of a passenger on 8th March 2013.
The court heard that Salesh Kumar drove a bus from Suva to Sigatoka and picked up a 17-year-old student from Pacific Harbor.
Justice Temo said the student had to get off at Nakorovou but wanted to get off later.
He asked the driver and checker four times to stop the bus but the driver kept on speeding.
The student went to the exit door and jumped off the moving bus causing injuries and died later.
Kumar will be eligible for parole after spending three years behind bars.
In the third case, a 55-year-old farmer of Naitasiri has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for causing the death of another farmer on 19th May, 2013.
Justice Temo said Sele Caucau assaulted Maika Tuinakelo causing serious injuries which led to his death.
The court heard that Caucau kicked and punched Tuinakelo after he injured Caucau’s bullock for damaging his garden.
While sentencing Caucau, Justice Temo highlighted that this matter could have been solved peacefully as Caucau used extreme violence to solve this problem.
In one other case, a 23-year-old man who caused the death of a 21-year-old man in Suva in February, 2013 has been sentenced to four years imprisonment.
The court heard that Naibuka Cama assaulted the victim outside a night club following a dispute.
The victim fell on a concrete pavement leading to his death two days later.
Justice Temo highlighted that the matter should have been reported to police.
Cama was remanded in custody for thirteen months and the term has been deducted from his final sentence.
He told all the four accused that they must lose their liberty to pay for their crimes.
He added that they have caused sadness and heart ache to the deceased’s family.
