High Court Judge finds Vana guilty

High Court Judge Justice Vinsent Perera has found the man who killed his younger brother on April 5th last year, guilty of manslaughter.

Two assessors had earlier found 38-year-old Aisake Vana Junior not guilty of manslaughter while one assessor had returned with a guilty opinion.

Aisake Vana Junior killed his brother Suliasi Veisere at their Kalabu home after an argument over a bowl of dhal.

While delivering his judgement, Justice Perera said that there is no dispute that there was a fight between Vana Junior and his younger brother, and Veisere died because of the stab injury.

Justice Perera said that the accused deliberately stabbed his brother and it was not an accident.

He said that Vana Junior attacked Veisere with a knife.

Justice Perera said that Vana Junior intended to cause serious harm to Veisere and he caused his death.

The judge also said that considering his demeanor, the accused did not give a true account of what happened on the day of the incident despite being remorseful.

He said there were inconsistencies in the evidence given by the accused.

The sentencing submission and mitigation will be at 3pm today.