Judge describes Devi’s de facto relationship as ‘volatile’
ACCUSED WAS SENTENCED TO MANDATORY LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITH A MINIMUM TERM OF 17 YEARS IMPRISONMENT
The demands of life put stress on the relationship of 41-year-old convicted murderer Marriane Premila Devi and her 34-year-old de facto partner on November 17, 2016. According to Devi, her partner Bal Krishna Naidu was always out drinking liquor with his friends and did not tend to the daily needs of the family.
As a 27-year-old in 2009, Mr Naidu chose to date the accused and lived in a de facto relationship with her which High Court judge Justice Salesi Temo described as “volatile.”
The couple had previously taken out a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) against each other.
At times they were on friendly terms with each other and other times they fought each other. Devi was 34 years old at the time and had two children from a previous relationship.
In his sentencing, Justice Temo said obviously there was love in their relationship because the couple went on to have a young daughter together.
They resided at Sakoca Settlement in Nasinu and they worked hard to make ends meet, with Devi working at Lyndhust Limited as a machinist and Mr Naidu as a taxi driver.
On November 17, 2016, after 6pm the couple had an argument in their home and pushed each other in the bedroom. The argument became heated and in her frustration Devi poured kerosene on Mr Naidu before setting him alight.
He was later taken to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital for medical treatment and on November 24, 2016, Mr Naidu died as a result of his burn injuries.
He suffered second and third degree burns to 80 per cent of his body.
“There were other non-violent ways you could have used to resolve your problem that day,” Justice Temo said. “However, you chose to murder and you must not complain when your liberty is taken away to pay for your crime.”
In mitigation, her lawyer Lisiate Qetaki submitted that she had three children and she reached form six level education.
She was a first offender and had been remanded in custody awaiting trial for approximately one year and seven months.
Devi was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years imprisonment to be served before a pardon may be considered by the President of the Republic of Fiji. Thirty days was given for appeal to the Fiji Court of Appeal. State lawyer Juleen Fatiaki appeared for the Prosecution.
The couple had previously taken out a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) against each other.