News

Father convicted for the death of adopted son

September 1, 2015 1:19 am

A 52 year old man of Nadi has been jailed for three years for slapping his one year-old step son repeatedly on the mouth and cheeks which subsequently led to his death.

Samuela Ledua and his wife Seini had adopted baby Viliame Baranage when his mother abandoned him.

Ledua’s wife had gone to work leaving him to care for the baby.

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While he was cooking, the baby started crying and Ledua attended to him, bathing him and dressing him up but the baby continued to cry.

He then slapped the baby repeatedly on his mouth and cheeks and didn’t know the baby had stopped breathing until he tried to give him water and the baby did not drink.

Ledua pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault occasioning bodily harm

He will be eligible for parole after two years.