A mother of four who was earlier found guilty of one count of infanticide, has been handed down a three year suspended sentence.
High Court Judge Justice Riyaz Hamza said 40-year-old Vika Kelekele Laliqavoka went to the bathroom at her sister’s place, stayed there for 1 hour, gave birth to a baby boy and then killed her baby.
Justice Hamza said that infanticide is a serious crime.
He said the aggravating factors in the case are loss of life of a baby, the mother killed her baby and she showed no regard to his life.
Justice Hamza said that the mitigating factors are that the woman is 40-years-old, a mother of four children, her eldest daughter is married and she is looking after her three children.
The judge also said that Laliqavoka has to undergo counselling with the Department of Social Welfare for the next 3 years.
Justice Hamza then told Laliqavoka that he could have given her a 25-year-prison sentence but considering her circumstances and submission from her lawyer, he decided to give her a non-custodial sentence.
The judge told her that she has a future ahead of her and she should ensure that she does not commit any crime now.
He also told her not to let anyone take advantage of her.
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