Axe killer sentenced seven years after crime [1]
Friday, September 30, 2011 - 14:37. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
TEVITA Kelepi of Nukunuku, a sufferer of mild mental retardation who pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the death of his 18-year-old brother whom he hit with an axe on the head in 2004, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment on September 29.
The sentencing by Justice Robert Shuster at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa came seven years after the crime happened in July 2004, at Nukunuku.
Justice Shuster in his sentencing the offender to 18 years imprisonment said the sentence was backdated to 2004 when Kelepi was first remanded in custody. But he would be kept at the psychiatric ward at Vaiola Hospital for treatment until he is well.
Justice Schuster said this was a horrific crime and Kelepi should never have committed it. He then apologized to the offender over the fact that it had taken up to seven years for his case to be heard in the court, as his case fell through the Tonga judiciary and justice system including the Crown Law.
Manslaughter
The offender in his late 20's first appeared at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa this month on September 12 for his trial. He was to be initially arraigned on murder but Justice Shuster moved to indict him on the alternative charge of manslaughter.
The accused represented by counsel Vuna Fa'otusia then changed his plea to a guilty plea for manslaughter and was remanded in custody at the psychiatric ward for sentencing
Drunk
The incident took place on night of July 9, 2004 in which the offender was intoxicated after drinking a bottle of rum with a friend.
The offender's young brother Kaliopasi was also intoxicated. The brothers lived together at Nukunuku and the victim went home after his drinking and ate all the food that was left in the house.
The offender came later and was very disappointed to find there was no food left for him. So he walked outside and grabbed an axe, approached his brother from behind and hit him on the back of his head with the axe.
The victim was rushed to Vaiola hospital where he was confirmed dead.
Dr Mapa Puloka who is in charge of the Psychiatric ward said the accused suffers from mild mental retardation. He had been remanded in hospital since 2005.