Husband of slain woman told shock news by son
Murder accused appears in court
"Something has happened to mum."
Nemani Tunidau’s son
The man accused of murdering Christchurch mother Laisa Tunidau just metres from her family home as she walked from her bus after work has appeared in court for a second time.
He still cannot be named publicly.
And the slain woman’s husband has spoken for the first time about his loss — and how he found out about his wife’s death — following her burial in Fiji.
Tunidau, 52, caught the bus home from work and was metres from her house on Cheyenne St, Sockburn, when she was attacked about 4.20pm on June 25.
Tunidau’s 11-year-old son has been left “traumatised” after watching emergency services try to save a woman outside his family home, not knowing it was his mother.
Police found her alleged attacker nearby and he was later charged with murder.
The 37-year-old was a patient of the Canterbury District Health Board’s specialist mental health service based at Hillmorton.
He had been allowed out on community leave.
On Monday June 27, the man made a brief appearance in the Christchurch District Court.
He was granted interim name suppression and the judge sought a report under Section 38 of the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003 to assess his fitness to stand trial.
The accused was remanded in custody until his appearance in the High Court at Christchurch yesterday.
Justice Cameron Mander heard the psychiatric report was not yet complete and additional reports were also being sought by the defence.
Defence lawyer Josh Lucas sought a six-week adjournment to allow time for the reports to be completed and filed with the court.
The man appeared by audiovisual link and did not speak during the short hearing.
Justice Mander set a prospective trial date for February 2024.
He extended the interim name suppression until at least August 26 when the accused will appear again.
Tunidau’s body was taken home to Fiji and her funeral was held on
July 5 in her village of Nabitu in Tailevu.
According to Fiji media, hundreds of family and friends — some who travelled from Christchurch — attended the service.
Nemani Tunidau told the Fiji Times the last time he saw his wife was the morning of her alleged murder.
He dropped her at work before travelling to visit Fijian workers at Waimate.
“When I was in Waimate, I was with a Fijian man who works in government and they have some kind of network where they are alerted if something happens or an accident happens around New Zealand,” he said.
“I heard them saying that someone was stabbed in Christchurch but they didn’t mention anything in detail.” Nemani Tunidau later went to his pastor’s home and his son was there.
“Something has happened to mum,” the boy said.
The police then told Nemani Tunidau about the alleged murder.
He described his wife as a softly spoken and humble woman.
Almost a week after the alleged murder the CDHB confirmed a full review had been launched into how the accused was allowed into the community.
“Whenever a serious adverse event occurs involving patients in our care a full review is carried out. A serious event review looks carefully into the care provided,” said CDHB chief executive Dr Peter Bramley.
“I can assure the public that if there are recommendations for changes to be made as a result of our own, or any external review, these will be actioned.”
A Givealittle page set up to support the family has raised more than $67,000.