Trio charged with woman’s murder
South Auckland residents are relieved charges have been laid following the fatal shooting of a woman in her home more than a year ago. Three men, aged 19, 22 and 28, have been jointly charged with the murder of Meliame Fisi’ihoi, was shot dead in the early hours of January 15, 2020.
The trio appeared separately at Manukau District Court and were remanded in custody to the High Court at Auckland early next month.
The 57-year-old grandmother’s killing sent shockwaves through South Auckland, when it was revealed she had been shot through the window of her front door after waking up to answer it about 2.45am.
She had been watching television in the sitting room when she got up to investigate a noise coming from outside.
Since the arrests, members of the community have offered support to the woman’s family.
South Auckland Tongan community leader Will ‘Ilolahia said he was “totally relieved”.
“There were a lot of women — and especially Tongan women — who were really scared to answer the door after that.”
Police made several public appeals for anyone with information to come forward to help the investigation – dubbed Operation Truro.
Pamphlets bearing Fisi’ihoi’s smiling face were distributed in and around Favona and wider Ma¯ngere and nearby South Auckland suburbs.
Ma¯ngere MP Aupito William Sio was among community and Pasifika leaders who at the time appealed to those responsible – or anyone who knew them – to do the right thing.
“I know it’s sometimes difficult to tell on your relatives or people who are related to you, but . . . they’re not helping them at all, by hiding them,” Sio said a week after the killing. “When we are silent on this evil that’s been committed, we are also participating and allowing it to happen.”
‘Ilolahia was more direct and called on Fisi’ihoi’s killer or killers to think of their own mothers.
“That person has a mum, too — and on that alone, he or she should give up.”
In December, just a month out from the one-year anniversary of the killing, police released images of a vehicle of interest.
The car had been caught on CCTV footage speeding down parts of Ma¯ngere, ta¯huhu and Flat Bush.
The information came as people within the community were getting frustrated at the seeming lack of movement in the investigation.
At one point, authorities faced criticism from people who felt the investigation to bring those responsible to justice was taking too long and that had it happened in a “non-brown suburb” or more affluent part of town, the case would have been solved sooner.
It was criticism police strongly rejected, however, citing a complex case that involved a significant amount of inquiries and work to be carried out.
Yesterday Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Bright, of Counties Manukau Police praised officers involved in the investigation and thanked the community.
“Today’s arrests are a credit to the hard work and dedication shown by the Operation Truro investigation team.
“We hope the arrests today provides Mrs Fisi’ihoi’s family with some degree of comfort following what has been an extremely difficult time for them.”
Despite the arrests, police say they are still making inquiries and anyone who may have any further information is urged to contact police.