A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to four years imprisonment after he was found guilty of one count of manslaughter.
Mikaele Salusalu assaulted 56-year-old,Suwani Limanitodonu, in February this year, for allegedly being involved in witchcraft.
Salusalu and the deceased used to live in the same village.
There was a rumour that the deceased was practicing ‘witchcraft’ by dancing naked towards the village grave, whenever there was a full moon.
The accused had previously seen the deceased doing this.
When Salusalu’s father suddenly fell ill, he suspected that it was the result of the deceased practicing witchcraft.
Salusalu was returning from a grog session on 6th February when he saw the deceased engaged in a strange dance.
He repeatedly hit the deceased with a bamboo stick and pushed him.
The deceased suffered severe internal injuries and died in the hospital after six days.
Salusalu has a non-parole period of 3 years.
