A young accountant found dead at Vaitelefou last year was strangled to death by a relative before he lit the house and left her to burn.
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The details of her death were made public yesterday when Elisaia Toetu appeared for sentencing before Justice Elizabeth Aitken of the Supreme Court.
The 21-year-old, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of murder and intentional damage, had apparently attempted to “hug” his relative after a night out at a local bar.
When she rejected him, he became angry and he began to plot the murder.
Yesterday, Justice Aitken jailed him for life. The young man is a cousin of the late Taulapapa Taupule Sione, who was a bright young accountant who was preparing for her wedding. According to the summary of facts, the defendant had drinks with the victim and her fiancé at the Marist Bar earlier that night.
Later, Elisaia and Taulapapa were dropped off at Vaitele-fou by the victim’s fiancé. At home, Taulapapa went in her room to watch movies on her laptop.
It was then that Elisaia entered the room and tried to “hug” her.
She pushed him away and told him to get out. When he did, she locked the door and continued to watch her movies.
Later on that night, Elisaia found the keys to the room.
When he opened the room, he strangled Taulapapa causing her death.
A medical report confirmed that the young woman died from strangulation.
Elisaia then lit some newspapers and burnt the house.
When neighbours saw the fire, they ran towards the house. At that point, Elisaia told them that his cousin was inside the house.
The late Ms. Sione, who was planning to get married in December last year, was working for local accounting firm, Lesa ma Penn. She had recently graduated from Auckland New Zealand.
In Court, the defendant was represented by lawyers, Fa’aniniva Edelma Niumata and Tole'afoa Lei Sam. Leone Su’a Mailo, of the Attorney Generals Office, was the prosecutor.
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