Tevita Kapawale has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years and 2 months.
Kapawale was charged with 5 counts of murder, 1 count of attempted murder and 1 count of criminal intimidation.
Kapawale appeared before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere.
The 32-year-old killed five crew members aboard the FV Tiro 2 in 2021.
While sentencing Kapawale, Justice Tuiqereqere says Kapawale's actions will traumatise the families of the five victims he killed for the rest of their lives, as well as the two survivors.
He says the wives and families of the 5 victims rely on their husbands to provide for them and Kapawale has taken that away.
The court found that Kapawale murdered Alfat Kodri and Qiritavabea Cagilabakomeli by striking them with an axe and forced Benjamin Mattaputty, Eme Warma and Samuela Sukera to jump overboard.
The incident took place on May 18th, 2021, following a heated argument among the crew in the Mamanuca and Yasawa Waters.
While being escorted to the waiting vehicle, a handcuffed Kapawale tried to attack a journalist and a photographer as they were taking his photos and videos.
This was done in the presence of the Police officers, and again raises the serious question on whether the officers are adequately trained to ensure accused and convicted persons are properly escorted without attacking the journalists or photographers who are doing their work.
We have sent questions to the Police.
