Court Briefs

A 24-year-old man from a certain area was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison for assaulting his 54-year-old father. According to the Supreme Court's proceedings, last July, Janesi Tali returned home after drinking kava and began verbally abusing his father for no reason. When his father condemned his abusive behavior, the defendant grabbed a piece of firewood and struck his father's left hand, causing a distal ulnar fracture. Subsequently, the young man struck his father's head again, causing an open scalp wound that required stitches, despite his father's attempts to block the blow.

The maximum penalty for domestic violence is imprisonment for no more than 5 years or a fine of no more than 100,000 vatu, or both. Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek, after considering the aggravating circumstances of the crime and previous similar cases, gave Tali a starting sentence of 3 years. Considering two similar cases in 2021 and 2023, the judge increased his sentence by 6 months.

Due to his early guilty plea, his sentence was reduced by 14 months, and it was further reduced by 4 months for expressing remorse. Additionally, his sentence was reduced by 3 months considering his mental health condition. Tali suffers from a mental illness and is currently undergoing antipsychotic treatment. He will continue to receive treatment while in correctional custody. Chief Justice Lunabek stated in the ruling that the nature of the crime was serious, and it was necessary to detain him for the safety of others and Tali himself.

Another 26-year-old man from Tanna was sentenced to 4 years in prison for multiple charges, with the sentence beginning on December 6th of last year. He admitted to committing domestic violence, illegal entry into a residence, and arson. The Supreme Court learned that on the night of September 1, 2024, Victor Johnson went to his 60-year-old uncle's home in Port Resolution, shouting, abusing, and demanding to see him. He forcibly opened the door with a knife and hammer, while his uncle's two grandchildren were sleeping inside. The children were frightened when they saw the defendant and the weapons in his hands.

The court also learned that the defendant then went to a second house, attempting to force the door open, and when he found it locked, he set the roof on fire. The woman and children sleeping inside were awakened by the fire and smoke, and they tried to run outside, but the door was locked from the outside. They cried for help, and other family members came to their aid. Supreme Court Judge Mary Mackenzie stated, "The defendant's actions were reckless and deliberate. He showed no respect, sympathy, or mercy for his uncle's property, including his family and relatives. He did not care about human life and property. He demonstrated his clear intention to burn them to death by locking the door from the outside with nails."

After assessing the aggravating circumstances and previous similar cases, Judge Mackenzie gave him a starting sentence of 6 years. Due to his late guilty plea, his sentence was reduced by 12 months, and another 12 months were reduced due to his personal factors and the 23 days he had already spent in custody. The defendant has 14 days to appeal the sentence and was informed that he can apply for parole after serving 2 years.