A young woman who dreamed of becoming a police officer like her father has been tragically killed, allegedly by her boyfriend, in a fatal stabbing in Sydney.
Jeremaia Tuwai, 21, is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Nuniah Kurualeba, also 21, at an apartment on the Great Western Highway in Kingswood, Sydney’s west, around 1:40 pm on Monday.
Emergency services were called to the unit, where they found Kurualeba with two stab wounds to her chest. Despite the paramedics’ efforts, she died at the scene.
After the incident, Tuwai reportedly fled, sparking a six-hour manhunt. He was eventually arrested on Derby Street in Penrith at 7:10 pm.
Kurualeba had been living and working in Australia after emigrating from Fiji several years ago. Her father, Viliame Kurualeba, a police officer, passed away in 2016. Nuniah had expressed a desire to follow in his footsteps and become a police officer herself.
Just an hour before her death, Kurualeba shared a smiling selfie on TikTok. Videos posted on social media show her dancing with friends and exploring Sydney, showcasing a life full of joy and potential.
Tributes have been pouring in online, with loved ones expressing their shock and sorrow. “Oh Lord! Why!” wrote a friend, accompanied by broken heart emojis.
Detectives continued to search the crime scene on Tuesday morning, seeking evidence to piece together the events leading up to the tragic incident. White fingerprint dust was visible on the window of the ground-floor apartment in the deteriorating complex.
After his arrest, Tuwai was taken to Penrith Police Station and charged with premeditated murder. He was denied bail and is scheduled to appear at Penrith District Court later today.