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. Tamanikaisau faced charges of murder and robbery related to the death of 60-year-old Satya Pillay on Qiolevu Rd in Nausori, which occurred on September 26 three years ago.
Court records indicate that Tamanikaisau, then just 19, entered Pillay’s taxi and directed him to a secluded farm road where he proceeded to strangle the driver. Afterward, he placed Pillay’s body in the trunk of the car and drove off, discarding the victim’s naked body on the roadside.
Both the prosecution and defense have been instructed 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 next court session will address this case, with a hearing for the murder sentence set for October 1.