Man jailed for life for killing uncle for having an affair with sister he was in love with

A 24-year-old man who killed his uncle after discovering he was having an affair with his sister, whom he was in love with, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Labasa High Court Judge Justice Lee James Burney.

Betero Komai pleaded guilty to killing his uncle, Tekiabena Takirara, on November 8th, last year at Eritobeta Settlement in Rabi Island while he was sitting in his kitchen with two of his grandchildren.

Komai struck his uncle several times with a cane knife.

He then fled towards the bush and threw away the knife which was later recovered by the police.

Justice Burney says Komai, in his caution interview, had said that when he had asked his sister whether she was having an affair with the deceased and when she had admitted, he had picked up the knife and stone and had gone to the uncles house. 

Justice Burney says Komai explained in his caution interview that he had attacked his uncle so brutally because of the many wrongs he had done to his sister. 

When challenged on whether it was Komai rather than the deceased who was having an affair with his sister, he accepted. 

Komai said he was falling in love with his sister and did not want anybody else to have sex with her.

The 24-year-old man confessed that he attacked his uncle because he was crazy over his sister and he was also crazy over her. 

Justice Burney says after Komai overheard a conversation between his sister and uncle that morning, he went to his house to kill him because he was jealous. 

Betero Komai can apply for pardon after serving a minimum of 14 years and 9 months in prison.