The 41-year-old man, alleged to have struck his wife several times with a cane knife at Navoalevu outside Labasa causing her death remains in police custody.

The man was arrested from his home in Daku after allegedly committing the gruesome crime in front of his wife’s parents.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirms the post mortem examination on the woman was conducted this morning however, the man is yet to be charged.

The suspect and victim had been living apart for the past two months and it is not known what triggered him to commit the crime.

He allegedly struck his wife several times outside of the house and then followed her inside the house again where he continued the attack.

The attack was witnessed by the woman’s father, mother, and her two-year eight-month-old daughter.

According to the woman’s mother Sambha Wati, they all feared for their lives and she had to hide her grandchild in her skirt to keep her safe.

The victim, Shaleshni Devi leaves behind three children, 11-year-old Sabneet Lal, 9-year-old Rikansha Lal and 2-year-8-month-old Shanaya Lal.