The High Court in Labasa sentenced two men to prison — 18 years for the first accused and life imprisonment for the second accused who has been described as the “principal offender”.
The two, Saimumu Dean and Zohir Dean appeared before judge Justice Aruna Aluthge on Thursday and were found guilty for the death of four women who perished in an April 20, 2020 fire at Benau, Labasa.
The four women were Nagama, 70, Dharmi, 76, Zamidan Hussain, 73, and Subhadra Wati, 70 who were all asleep at Nagama’s house when the fire broke out killing all of them.
Justice Aluthge sentenced Saimumu to a non-parole period of 18 years imprisonment while Zohir was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Justice Aluthge said Zohir Dean was the principal offender and could only apply for parole after serving 25 years in prison and would need to apply through the Commission on the Prerogative of Mercy.
Nagama’s son Bal Krishna thanked God for justice for his late mum and his aunts who perished in the fire. “I’m happy because my mother and those women didn’t deserve that kind of death but I thank God for justice.”
The two were both charged with four counts of death, one count of arson and one count of attempted murder.
