The sentencing of a mother who pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the death of her 14-year-old daughter who she severely assaulted last year was adjourned to Friday, May 16.

Fifita ‘Ofa the mother and her brother Tomasi ‘Ofa have pleaded guilty to manslaughter, while the de-facto partner of the victim’s father Mohulamu Toumohuni pleaded guilty to abetment to bodily harm.

They appeared before Mr Justice Cato on May 7, at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.

The judge who was ready to deliver his sentence reluctantly adjourned after defence counsel Peau Pifeleti asked for more time to get legal documents from overseas.

He said the documents is to assist his submission for part of his client's imprisonment sentences to be suspended. He represents the mother and brother duo while the accused Mohulamu is represented by ‘Ofa Pouono.

Beating

Meanwhile, the court heard last week during sentencing submissions the savage beating of the young girl by both her mother and uncle on August 10, 2013.

She was first beaten by her mother using a strong stick (sialemohe) that lasted for two-hours until the stick broke in two. Mohulamu abetted the beating by preventing the victim from escaping.

Later on that same day, the uncle Tomasi again assaulted her using a piece of water hose and a hammer which lasted an hour.

The beating was so severe that the victim was not able to walk. She sustained multiple blunt injuries on her face and arms with severe bruising and fractures on other parts of her body.

She was then left neglected for days without medical attention until August 15 when she was admitted to Vaiola Hosptial. She died on the morning of August 16, 2013.

A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death was septic shock and multiple organ failure.