A 42-year-old casual labourer of Sigatoka was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment by Justice Daniel Gounder today at the Lautoka High Court for a charge of manslaughter.

The court heard Satish Chand in September, 2006, assaulted his defacto wife Pratima Devi in their home resulting in her falling and landing on the cement. In court, Chand revealed that Pratima was mistreating his 13-year-old mentally handicapped daughter from his first marriage.

Justice Gounder sentenced Chand to three years after taking into account his good character, his cooperation with police and the court, as they were mitigating factors.

Judge Gounder said by law, a term of 3 years in jail cannot be suspended.