A police officer has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter in a case involving the death of a 47-year-old man. Fifita Tawake Toma received a sentence of five years and 11 months, but he will be eligible for parole after serving two years and 11 months, as ruled by Justice Thushara Rajasinghe.
Originally pleading not guilty, Toma changed his plea prior to the trial’s start. The incident occurred on January 13 in Suva City, where Toma and three others were in a vehicle after consuming kava. At a traffic light near Westpac Bank, the deceased, Peter Lanyon, allegedly punched the car. In response, Toma exited the vehicle and struck Lanyon, who subsequently fell and hit his head on the pavement, leading to unconsciousness. Afterward, Toma moved Lanyon’s body to the other side of the road, where police later found him and transported him to CWM Hospital.
Toma has 30 days to appeal the sentencing decision.
This case serves as a significant reminder about the consequences of violent actions and the responsibility that comes with being a law enforcement officer. Using this incident as a learning opportunity could foster better understanding and practices within the community to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Leave a comment