A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the manslaughter of Ronal Ritnesh Kumar, who died after a violent assault during a grog session at Uluitoa Settlement in Wainibuku.
High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar delivered the sentence, setting a non-parole period of five years for Anish Lal Shiu Jattan.
Jattan was initially charged with murder but was found guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter after the court determined that, while he did not intend to kill the victim, he knew his actions would cause serious harm.
The fatal incident occurred on 11 December 2022, when Kumar returned home intoxicated and began shouting obscenities at guests who were drinking grog with his de facto partner.
Jattan, angered by the outburst, confronted Kumar and struck him multiple times in the head with his fists. When Kumar fell, Jattan either kicked or stomped on him.
Kumar, 37, died within 30 minutes of the attack from a brain haemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma.
The court described the attack as “senseless” and said there was little provocation for the violence.
“You showed no sympathy,” Justice Goundar said, referring to Jattan’s reaction after the assault, when he reportedly told a relative to bring the victim back after recovery so he could hit him again.
In sentencing, Justice Goundar acknowledged Jattan’s previously clean record and his employment as a carpenter before his remand. However, he pointed out the lack of remorse and the severity of the assault, particularly the repeated blows to the victim’s head.
“A custodial sentence is inevitable. It serves to denounce your conduct and deter you and other like-minded people from using violence to solve differences,” Justice Goundar said.
Manslaughter in Fiji carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.
