Litia Cava 
[Photo: FILE]
A Lautoka man who faced an attempted murder charge over an attack on his older brother has been jailed.
The High Court found him guilty of acting with intent to cause grievous harm.
The court cleared Mosese Tuivutuna Saint John of attempted murder but found him responsible for acting with intent to cause grievous harm, an offence carrying a serious penalty under Fiji’s Crimes Act.
High Court judge Justice Riyaz Hamza said the evidence did not support a conviction for attempted murder, but it proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Saint John’s actions were intended to cause grievous harm.
The offence took place in 2024, when Saint John and his brother were living in the same family home with their parents.
The trial heard evidence from the victim, their mother, Mereoni Ravua and medical professionals from Lautoka Aspen Hospital.
The court was told Dr Farahnaaz Vebzureen Kamal examined the victim after the incident, while Surgical Registrar Dr Mesulame Sauvolili provided further medical evidence on the injuries.
Saint John chose not to testify and did not present any witnesses to challenge the prosecution’s case.
Justice Hamza said the sentence had to reflect the harm caused, discourage similar offending and protect the community from violent acts.
He said the court must also send a message that violence within families would not be excused.
Saint John will serve two years and two months imprisonment, with the court reducing the non-parole period after considering the time he had already spent in custody.
He has 30 days to appeal.
