Stabbing victim’s son watched as medics tried to save her life
An 11-year-old boy watched as paramedics fought to save the life of a woman who had been stabbed, not knowing it was his mother.
Laisa Maraia Waka, aged in her 50s, was walking along the footpath on Cheyenne St in Sockburn, Christchurch, when she was attacked by a man wielding a knife about 4.20pm on Saturday.
She was metres from her home, where her son was waiting excitedly for her to return from working at a rest home in Ilam.
The boy did not witness the attack but saw the aftermath, not knowing the person fatally injured was his mother.
A 37-year-old man, whose name is suppressed, has been charged with Waka’s murder. He had been in the care of mental health services prior to Saturday’s incident. It is unclear what conditions he was subject to.
Health officials have refused to comment about the case while it is subject to a police investigation.
At a court hearing yesterday the alleged killer was remanded in custody until his next appearance on July 15. Judge Mark Callaghan asked for a report under Section 38 of the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003 to assess the man’s fitness to stand trial.
Waka moved to New Zealand from Fiji in 2018 for a better life and was a greatly respected member of the Moraia Fijian Parish, where she sang in the choir. She has four children, three of whom still live in Fiji.
Fijian community leader and parish member Una Tikoi said people were angry the alleged killer was out in the community, given he was a ‘‘sick man’’.
She said Waka’s son was ‘‘traumatised’’ by her death and ‘‘haunted’’ by what he’d witnessed. ‘‘He can be talking and laughing, and then he starts crying.’’
Waka’s son and her husband, Nemani Tunidau, were being supported by members of the Fijian community at the parish yesterday. ‘‘We are very distressed,’’ Tikoi said.
She described Waka as a ‘‘loving, caring mother’’, saying: ‘‘She’s a very joyful person with a huge smile.’’
Waka’s body would be taken home to Fiji so ‘‘her three children there can pay their last respects’’.
Tunidau said yesterday afternoon he was ‘‘lost for words’’ about what had happened.
Waka’s husband said his son was ‘‘just waiting for his mum to reach home’’.
Tunidau, a carpenter, moved to New Zealand in 2016. He and his wife had applied for residency.