Matanimeke to be sentenced on Christmas Eve for 2023 Christmas Eve killing

Court

Matanimeke to be sentenced on Christmas Eve for 2023 Christmas Eve killing

By Rashika Kumar

18/12/2025

Timoci Matanimeke, who brutally killed an elderly man in his Samabula home on Christmas Eve in 2023, will be sentenced next Wednesday on Christmas Eve.

The 20-year-old has been found guilty of one count each of murder, aggravated robbery, and trespass. On Christmas Eve 2023, Matanimeke entered the house to carry out a robbery.

He struck 59-year-old Nitya Nand on the head, face, and cheekbone with a chopper, and stole his phone and safety boots. State prosecutor Hezekiah Mofaga, while delivering his sentencing submissions, told High Court Judge Justice Siainiu Fa'alogo Bull that Matanimeke should be sentenced to between 20 and 30 years’ imprisonment, considering the brutality of the offence.

He says that based on CCTV footage, there was a degree of planning, as Matanimeke entered the house for two minutes, exited, and then re-entered before coming out a minute later with the stolen items.

The prosecutor says Nand had suffered a stroke and that the attack on him was unprovoked.

Mofaga added that Nand’s son has suffered emotional and psychological harm, while Matanimeke has shown no remorse.

Matanimeke’s Legal Aid counsel, Georgina Volavola, says he was 18-years-old at the time of the offence and should be shown leniency because of his age.

She says Matanimeke is a first offender and that his time in remand has made him fully aware of the consequences of his actions on himself and his family.

Volavola says this was not a premeditated murder, as he did not plan to kill Nand.

She says Matanimeke is seeking forgiveness and is open to reform, but a long sentence would not serve justice. Meanwhile, Justice Bull has given the prosecution and defence until tomorrow afternoon to file further submissions.

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