By Linny Folau
Tevita Matangi (32) is serving four and a half years imprisonment for two charges of causing grievous bodily harm to Mateaki Hafoka (29) and Sikuvea Fifita (26), when he attacked them with a machete during a drunken altercation in Talau, Vava'u in 2023.
Justice Tupou sentenced him on 22 January at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa. This was after he was convicted on both charges on 30 September 2024 in Nuku'alofa, in a trial at the Supreme Court Vava'u Registry in September of the same year.
She stated that the drinking party began on the evening of 20 October 2023, Sikuvea was drinking at his home with a friend Sione. They left for the “Pua” bar at Neiafu around 7:00pm. At around 1:00am that night Sikuvea found Sione in a van full of people leaving for Talau to Lamipuli’s residence.
Also inside the van were Mateaki and Matangi. Sikuvea was invited to join them and he did. At Lamipuli’s residence the drinking continued. They sat outside of the house where there was light. The first altercation was between Sione and Matangi. Mateaki broke them up. In the second alteration, Matangi attacked Sikuvea and Sikuvea responded.
Again, Mateaki broke up that fight. Sikuvea and Mateaki returned to where they were drinking. Sikuvea at this stage, had his back to the house and Mateaki was facing him towards the house. Matangi had gone inside Lamipuli’s house and obtained a machete. As they were talking, Sikuvea heard Mateaki mention the word “helepelu” (machete). Sikuvea’s immediate reaction was to run for the fence and hide.
Shortly after, Sikuvea saw Matangi walk towards him holding the machete in his hands above his head. When he drew close, Sikuvea jumped up and tried to disarm Matangi of the machete. They struggled and his arm was struck by the machete before he could reach Matangi’s hands.
Meanwhile, Mateaki upon see the two wrestling, he joined in an attempt to break them up. Sometime in that struggle, unknown to Sikuvea, Mateaki was also struck by the machete. Mateaki left for the road at that stage. When Sikuvea finally disarmed Matangi and the machete fell to the ground, Sikuvea realised he was injured and ran to the main road. There he collapsed. He became conscious at the Neiafu hospital. He was eventually evacuated to Nuku’alofa where he was given further treatment, stated the judge.
"His injuries included a 5cm deep and 12-15 cm long wound to the right forearm from the lateral to medial at the proximal half of his forearm anterior aspect, with 6-7 muscles severed including a few arteries and veins. He also lost blood, estimated at one litre.
The residual impact of the injuries caused by the machete attack left Sikuvea with a weakened right arm where he is unable to lift anything heavy or open his hand, in particular, his middle to the pinkie finger permanently."
The judge stated as for Mateaki’s involvement and as mentioned, he saw Matangi and Sikuvea wrestle outside of the fence of Lamipuli’s house and threw himself between them. It was then, that he felt something strike his right arm. But because he could not separate them, he threw himself between them again. It was at this time that he saw his arm hanging off him and felt his face and shirt wet. This was from his own blood. He moved back to the light and realised he was severely injured.
“He was taken together with Sikuvea to the hospital that morning. Dr Tatila‟s heroic efforts in stabilising and stopping the bleeding from his seriously injured arm saved his life. He too, was evacuated to Nuku’alofa for treatment,” said the Judge
“Clearly, Mateaki’s injuries were more severe and had he not been treated within the hour it would have been fatal for him. His injuries included a slashed wound to the anterior aspect of the right arm; injuries were more severe and as the doctor said, if treatment was delayed for an hour, it would have been fatal.
“Extreme steps had to be taken by the doctor and nurses at the hospital to save Mateaki. They successfully stopped the bleeding at 4:00am that morning. A total of three to five bags of blood were transfused into him to stabilise him for the evacuation to Nuku’alofa.”
The residual impact of the injuries caused by the machete attack left Mateaki with a total loss of the use of his right arm. This was visible in court while he gave evidence. He is a bricklayer by trade and is no longer able to continue as a result of this unfortunate incident, she stated.
Repeat offender
Meanwhile, the defendant has one recent previous conviction when on 27 February, 2024 he was fined $500 in the Magistrates Court for domestic violence.
The Crown submitted the aggravating factors against him were the seriousness of the offence, the use of a dangerous weapon, namely the machete and the severe injury sustained by multiple victims.
“The Court’s position on the use of dangerous weapons such as a machete as an instrument of violence is that it must be denounced. The court has also observed that a machete is an inherently dangerous weapon, especially in the hands of a drunken offender, and that such cases warrant a starting point of 6 ½ years’ imprisonment.”
The defendant stated that he got the machete for the purposes of frightening his victims and for his own protection, among other claims.
"In this instant, Matangi was the clear instigator of all the altercations that occurred at Lamipuli's residence on the night in question. After fighting Sikuvea, he obtained the machete and as he told the Probation officer, looked for and found him hiding near the fence.
Matangi’s version of events is inconsistent with the evidence of the witnesses that were called including Mateaki’s evidence. Firstly, the machete was found by the police near the fence where he and Sikuvea were fighting – not at Peni Fifita‟s house. Secondly, Mateaki and Sikuvea did not recall chasing each other with Sikuvea in possession of the machete."
The judge also did not believe Matangi’s version of events.
“Returning to the seriousness of the offending, I consider the injuries inflicted on Mateaki and Sikuvea as extremely serious as they have both suffered permanent impairment albeit to varying degrees.
“Sikuvea's injuries, though serious, in losing the use of three fingers and unable to lift heavy things with his injured right arm, Mateaki on the other hand has totally lost use of his right arm and therefore his means of earning a living as a brick layer. Although Mateaki’s was not slashed off as in Tupou, the fact that it is of no use to him means the impact is the same.”
The judge having regarded to the maximum statutory penalty, the seriousness of the offending, the use of a machete, a dangerous weapon, inflicting serious and permanent impairment to both Sikuvea and Mateaki, the comparable sentences and principles referred to above, the sentencing objectives of punishment, denunciation, deterrence and protection of the community.
She sentenced him to seven and a half years imprisonment. The final three years of his sentence was suspended for three years, on conditions. Failure to comply with the said conditions may result in the suspension being rescinded, in which case, he will be required to complete the balance of his prison term, the judge ordered.
