A couple, whose two-year-old daughter died after sustaining severe burns from an accident involving a boiling kettle in 2018, have been handed suspended prison sentences.
Mosese Vokula and Salaseini Dicaki were each convicted of manslaughter due to breach of duty following the death of their daughter, Lidia Rokobati.
They will not serve their three-year prison terms unless they breach the conditions of good behaviour over the next five years, which would result in them being required to serve their sentences.
Court documents showed that the incident happened on 21 January 2018 at the couple’s home in Nadi. Lidia, their second child, tripped on the lead wire of a boiling kettle and fell backwards onto it, sustaining burns on 16% of her body. Despite being advised by a traditional healer to seek medical help, the couple did not take her to a hospital. Lidia’s condition worsened the following day, and she was taken to Nadi Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The court took into account the couple’s remorse during sentencing, with both parents expressing deep regret for their daughter’s death, which they said continues to haunt them.
