By Linny Folau

‘Olivieta Vea (28) was sentenced to one and half years imprisonment, fully suspended, for reckless driving and causing bodily harm to her husband, while driving under the influence of alcohol in Pahu last year.

Justice Tupou sentenced her on 17 April at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, after she pleaded guilty to the two charges in January.

The court heard that the offences were committed on 2 August 2024, at around 7:00pm, when the complainant, the husband, attended a work party at Sia’atoutai together with the defendant and their two children. Both the complainant and defendant consumed alcohol at this party, with the defendant having more than five glasses of wine.

At around 9:00pm, the complainant and the defendant got into an argument. The complainant then took the defendant and their two children to her parent’s home at Pahu. The complainant told the defendant that she was to stay with the children at Pahu, while he returned to the work party. The defendant did not agree and another argument ensued.

When they reached the home, the complainant parked the vehicle at the front of the home beside the road. and went in with the children.

The defendant got into the driver’s seat. When the complainant returned to the vehicle, she stood on the accelerator pedal. The complainant grabbed the door of the vehicle, in an attempt to stop the defendant driving off and called out for her to stop. The defendant did not stop, and the complainant lost his grip of the door. She then drove off before swerving to collide with an electric pole beside the road.

A Police Officer saw the defendant fleeing from the scene and pursued her. He noticed her face was covered in blood and she was taken to the hospital. At around 11:36pm, a Police Officer took a passive alcohol test, screening test and evidential test from the defendant. He obtained her test results of 820 micro-grams of alcohol per litre of breath. 

The complainant was also injured and attended to by a doctor, who reported his injuries included a comminuted fracture of the right clavicle, right lung contusions; and a proximal femur fracture.

The defendant cooperated with the Police and admitted to the offending. She had no previous convictions.

The Crown stated the aggravating features included the measurement of 820 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath at time of the offending.

The court was told that the complainant and the defendant are husband and wife and had reconciled. Their children are all under the age of three years. The complainant, Mr Vea wrote to the court seeking mercy on behalf of his wife for their young children’s sake.

The defendant also submitted a letter to the court seeking a lenient sentence.

“I have considered her remorse and reconciliation with the complainant, her husband,” stated the judge.

“It appears that alcohol combined with the defendant’s obsession with her husband led to the offending. It is alarming to read the defendant’s admission that she was with child as well as being accompanied by their two young children when she consumed alcohol to the point her husband saw fit to send them home. She did not want to let her husband return to the party without her, in fear of him being in any female company hence her conduct that night."

The judge noted that the defendant's pre-sentence report acknowledged her remorse, the reconciliation with the complainant and recommended a fully suspended sentence on conditions, which should include no consumption of alcohol for the duration of her suspended sentence.

The judge sentenced her to one and half years imprisonment. In considering the mitgating factors, the judge suspended the defendant’s sentence in full for a period of two years, on conditions.

She was also disqualified from driving during the period of suspension. Failure to comply with the conditions may result in the suspension being rescinded, in which case, the defendant will be required to complete the balance of her prison term, stated the judge.