Viliame Ratoto who drove dangerously while drunk and caused the death of two sisters walking along Kanace Road in Valelevu, Nasinu in 2018 will be sentenced by High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo next Friday.
In the sentencing submission today, State Prosecutor Sheenal Swastika asked for a custodial sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
She submitted that two lives were lost and Ratoto had also been disqualified from driving before the incident.
Swastika also said the Ratoto was intoxicated and it was more than twice the legal limit.
The State Prosecutor said Ratoto drove through Kanace Road that day at 70 kilometres per hour.
She said both the deceased were young and their right to life and future was taken away.
Justice Temo then said that Ratoto was driving like he was on a highway.
He said he has been driving since 1987 and he has seen a lot of reckless drivers on the road.
Justice Temo said the law has to protect members of the society like the two deceased.
The Judge said Ratoto has five daughters and he would not want the lives of two of his daughters to be taken away in the same way.
Justice Temo said punishment has to be done in fairness to the family of the deceased.
He said even this morning, he saw the arrogant attitude towards road users by drivers.
Defence lawyer Talei Kean asked for a sentence of 4 years imprisonment.
Kean said Ratoto acknowledges that a custodial sentence is warranted.
Kean submitted that Ratoto is married with five daughters and is employed as a block layer at Pacific Building Solutions.
The oldest daughter is 14 years old while the youngest is 4 years old.
Kean said Ratoto cooperated with Police in the investigation and was a first offender of criminal offences but not traffic offences.
Ratoto was drinking alcohol with his friends from 7am to 12pm on 16th September 2018 and while driving, he lost control of the vehicle on Kanace Road in Nasinu.
The vehicle spun and hit the two sisters and their friend who were walking on the footpath.
26-year-old Archana Chand died on the same day while her 35-year-old sister Amrita Chand died two days later.
A Victim Impact Report from the family of the two sisters has also been submitted in court.
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