Hateni Kaufusi (32) was sentenced to five-years nine-months imprisonment for manslaughter, when he stabbed Tolifili Tu'alau with a pair of scissors during a fight at Te’ekiu in February last year.

Lord Chief Justice O.G. Paulsen in passing down sentencing on January 21, said after a trial before judge and jury, Kaufusi was acquitted on a charge of murder but was found guilty on manslaughter.

On February 4, 2018 at Te’ekiu, Kaufusi had stabbed the victim with a pair of scissors causing a serious injury to his back and his death.  

The Court heard that Kaufusi had been introduced to the deceased, Tu'alau, in around 2017 and they were on friendly terms.

In the early afternoon of February 4, 2018 Kaufusi was roasting a pig at Vaotu'u, when the deceased and another man arrived and they began a drinking session.

The deceased insisted that Kaufusi drive him to Pea despite Kaufusi explaining that his car had no petrol. Kaufusi relented and they set off but the car ran out of petrol at Liahona and they pushed it to a nearby house. 

While Kaufusi was inside the house, the deceased had the car towed to his home at Vaotu'u (leaving Kaufusi at Liahona) and the car window was broken.

The Court heard Kaufusi was able to get a ride back to Vaotu'u and made arrangements with some acquaintances to have his car towed to his home at Te'ekiu.

Kaufusi then learned that the car had been damaged and there was an altercation between him and the deceased, but what was involved with this was not explored in the evidence, said the Chief Justice.

However the two men made up and apologized to each other and the deceased agreed to repair the damage to the car. 

The car was then pushed to the road and made ready to be towed. Kaufusi said he was surprised when the deceased got into the car for the journey to Te'ekiu and he told him to get out but he would not. 

The deceased had no reason to go with Kaufusi. They towed the car to Te'ekiu and the car was pushed to the rear of the property and the men who assisted left, leaving Kaufusi and the deceased alone. 

The two men then got into an argument. 

Fight

The Chief Justice said they have only Kaufusi's evidence as to what followed and accepted his evidence in the following respects. 

Kaufusi told the deceased that he had caused all the problems with the car and the deceased gave a smart answer back and said that Kaufusi should take part in fixing the car. Kaufusi said he would make a complaint against the deceased.

The deceased then lunged forward at him with something in his hand, which turned out to be a pair of scissors. They argued further and Kaufusi threw a plate at the deceased, which hit him on the forehead. 

He then tackled the deceased who fell back onto chairs. Kaufusi was on top of the deceased and tried to snatch the scissors from the deceased and he forced the deceased's hand down and the scissors sank into the deceased's leg causing a wound. 

Kaufusi was able to snatch the scissors but was punched and thrown to the ground. The deceased was then on top of him strangling him so he used the scissors to stab the deceased. He intended to stab him on the shoulder but in fact stabbed him in the back. 

Kaufusi lifted the deceased into a chair and pressured the back wound, which was bleeding heavily and called out for help. Help did not come immediately. He took the deceased outside and laid him in front of his car and went in search of someone with a vehicle to take the deceased to hospital, the Court was told.

Sentence

The Chief Justice in sentencing adopted a starting point reflecting the steps taken by Kaufusi to assist the deceased in pressuring his wounds and taking him to hospital, which distinguished this case from others he had considered. 

He adopted a starting point of seven-years consistent with the case law.

In terms of mitigating factors, Kaufusi was entitled to some credit for his previous record and that he is genuinely and deeply remorseful and that he was fully co-operative with the Police. 

For these factors, his sentence was discounted by nine-months. 

In addition Kaufusi and his family have made peace with the deceased's widow and her family and in Tongan custom have provided gifts. A further six-months was discounted to reflect these matters, he said.

In the result the sentence is one of five-years and nine-months imprisonment. 

"A suspended sentence is warranted, as I believe Mr. Kaufusi's rehabilitation prospects are very good. He is also remorseful and has a supportive partner and family."

The sentence was also backdated to when he was first held in custody on February 5, 2018.

The Chief Justice also suspended the final two-years of his sentence on conditions.