A police officer has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison following his conviction in connection with the death of a 47-year-old man. Fifita Tawake Toma, in a case presided over by Justice Thushara Rajasinghe, received a sentence of five years and 11 months, although he will become eligible for parole after serving two years and 11 months.
Initially, Toma pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge, but he later changed his plea before the trial began. Court documents reveal that on January 13 of this year, Toma was a passenger in a vehicle with three other men, having consumed kava prior to the incident. While waiting at a traffic light next to Westpac Bank on Thompson Street in Suva City, he encountered the deceased, Peter Lanyon, who was crossing the street.
In what appears to be an escalation of provocation, Lanyon allegedly punched the vehicle, leading Toma to exit the car and retaliate by punching Lanyon. This resulted in Lanyon losing consciousness and suffering a serious head injury after falling onto the road. Disturbingly, Toma is then reported to have dragged Lanyon’s body to the opposite side of the road, where police later found him and transported him to the hospital.
Toma has 30 days to file an appeal regarding his sentence.
This case serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of violence and the importance of de-escalation in high-tension situations. It also underscores the critical role of accountability, especially for those in law enforcement, in maintaining public trust.
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