Suva High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo has found 39-year-old Subramani Goundar guilty of a count each of manslaughter, failure to supply breath analysis to an officer and failure to comply with requirements following an accident.
Justice Temo highlighted that Goundar has to pay the penalty to send a message to the people that when the police try and stop you, then you should stop.
Goundar drove a taxi in such a manner that caused the death of 35‑year‑old Sairusi Vunakece on 29th April 2016 in Vuci Road, Nausori.
Justice Temo said that according to the evidence presented the accused did hit the deceased.
In mitigation, Defence lawyer Tirath Sharma has submitted that Goundar is married with three children and is the sole breadwinner of his family.
State lawyer Yogesh Prasad submitted that the tariff should be set between eight to 10 years.
Goundar has been remanded and will be sentenced on Tuesday.
