A 21-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering a taxi driver in Nausori in 2021. Noeli Jack Tamanikaisau was convicted by Justice Dane Tuiqereqere at the High Court in Suva on Wednesday. He faced charges of murder and robbery related to the case of 60-year-old Satya Pillay, which occurred on September 26, 2020.
Court documents reveal that Tamanikaisau, then 19, entered Pillay’s taxi and directed him to a secluded farm road, where he strangled the driver. He then placed Pillay’s body in the trunk of the taxi and abandoned it, leaving the victim’s remains on the roadside.
Both the prosecution and defense have been ordered to submit sentencing and mitigating arguments by September 20. Tamanikaisau is also charged with robbery for taking Pillay’s mobile phone and $15 in cash. The proceedings will resume at the next court session, with the sentencing hearing for the murder conviction set for October 1.