A 45-year-old man has been remanded in custody following a tragic incident on Boxing Day, where he allegedly fatally stabbed a farmer in Batinivuriwai Settlement, Wainunu, Bua, located in Vanua Levu. Jonasa Matakibau appeared before Magistrate Panapasa Tawake at the Savusavu Magistrate’s Court yesterday to face one count of murder.
The case has since been transferred to the Labasa High Court, with a hearing scheduled for January 6. Police reports suggest that the victim, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was embroiled in a violent altercation at a bus shelter within the settlement. What began as a dispute escalated into a physical confrontation, during which the victim sustained a fatal stab wound to the chest.
Emergency services were alerted, but despite immediate efforts to transport the man to the Wainunu Health Centre, he was pronounced dead upon arrival. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about violence in communities and the need for measures to promote peace and conflict resolution.