By Linny Folau

Sione Fifita (20), received a suspended 12-month prison sentence for reckless driving that caused grievous bodily harm to a 21-year-old man. He was sentenced on March 11, in the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, with the judge considering his young age and first-time offender status. 

The incident occurred on the night of 26 July 2024, after Fifita had been drinking with friends before driving and hitting the victim, Kelekolio, who was crossing Taufa’ahau Road. Following the incident, Fifita fled but later turned himself in to the police.

The court heard that Fifita had been drinking with friends at home in Kapeta, before they went for a drive. The victim Kelekolio was drinking at Ciora Bar before walking to Reload Bar in the Nuku'alofa CBD and was told to wait outside.

After midnight, the accused was driving north on Taufa’ahau Road approaching Reload Bar, when a vehicle in front of him slowed down because that driver saw the victim crossing the road. The accused did not stop but overtook that vehicle at speed before he hit the victim crossing the road. The injured victim was rushed to hospital with a moderate head injury and a knee ligament tear or rupture.

Lord Chief Justice Bishop sentenced the accused after he pleaded guilty to reckless driving causing grievous bodily harm. 

The judge inferred that the victim had made a full recovery. 

“Drinking and driving dangerously afterwards is becoming a marked feature of life in the Kingdom and accidents as a result are becoming more and more frequent, some indeed proved to be fatal.”

The probation report stated that he the accused was a young man from a good family and well-spoken of in his community.

The Lord Chief Justice accepted that his initial action in running away was because he panicked, and he quickly came to his senses, surrendered to the police the following day and admitted his involvement.

“I take this into consideration together with the reparations you have made to the victim's family. Although an offence of this kind merits a custodial sentence, I can see no benefit to you or to the public inquiry for you to serve such a sentence having regard to the circumstances of the accident itself.”

Lord Chief Justice Bishop concluded that an appropriate sentence was 12 months' imprisonment fully suspended for 12 months, with conditions.

The suspended sentence includes probation, a requirement to complete rehabilitation courses, and a disqualification from obtaining a driver's license until the suspension period ends. If he commits any further offenses during this period, the sentence may be activated.