Man who broke victim's leg in 'Eua convicted [1]
Friday, August 14, 2020 - 17:30. Updated on Monday, August 17, 2020 - 10:01.
Loketi Malie (39) was found guilty by a jury for seriously harming a 56-year-old man, whom he hit on the leg with a piece of sandalwood in Futu, ‘Eua.
After a trial on August 13 at the Supreme Court, the accused was convicted of causing serious bodily harm to Siaosi Kuli.
Hon. Mr Justice Cato detained him in Police custody for sentencing on September 18.
The Crown submitted the offence occured in th early hours of April 29, 2018 when the victim went with the accused to the accused's place to drink alcohol.
The accused's wife was present during the drinking.
The victim who had enough alcohol got up to leave but the accused insisted that he stay back and drink. The victim refused to stay back so the accused hit his left leg with the sandalwood.
He also punched the victim's mouth.
The victim was taken to the hospital by Police officers, where the doctor found a scalp swelling on his right parietal region. He was kept in the hospital.
Police then arrested the accused and remanded him in custody.
On April 30 the victim was brought to Vaiola Hospital for examination and treatment. The doctor who carried out the examination, found that he sustained bruises over his right upper eyelid, head concussions and swelling at the parietal occipital area.
In addition, his left leg was put on a cast, with a wound on the anterior aspect of his leg. It was the doctor's opinion that he had a broken left leg secondary to hard blunt force trauma.
On May 3 Police interviewed the accused who admitted to the offending.