The Suva High Court today sentenced a 20-year-old man to 6 years in prison for robbery with violence.

Jeke Vakararawa was found guilty of robbery with violence and was acquitted on the charge of manslaugher. He and others broke into an elderly couple’s home in Lami in July 2006 and in the process a 71 year old occupant was assaulted. The victim died a few days later in hospital due to injuries sustained.

The court was told that Vakararawa is remorseful and had a minimal role in offence, was influenced by his peers who were older than him and had committed the offence in a joint enterprise.

Judge Justice Daniel Goundar said that the elderly couple was physically attacked in the safety of their own home by a group of men and actual physical violence was used to rob the couple.

Judge Goundar emphasized that violence committed in a private home will not be tolerated and that violent intruders should expect to receive a severe sentence therefore Vakararawa was sentenced to six years imprisonment.