A man who smashed the louvres of a house in Popua on 13 October 2013 because he believed an evil spirit was haunting his wife, has been ordered to redo the repairs he did.
The Magistrate Court in Nuku’alofa heard that when ‘Ofa Similai’s wife was sick, he believed she was possessed by the evil spirit of his neighbour’s deceased husband.
The accused therefore entered Mele ‘Esala’s house and smashed 33 louvre strips worth NZ$56 as revenge.
Magistrate Peni Ma'u told the defendant he shouldn’t believe in evil spirits in this day and age and that he should always allow his Christian values to lead him to do the right thing.
Ma'u also told Similai he should admit his wife to the Vaiola Hospital psychiatric ward so she could be treated.
The plaintiff told the magistrate the accused had already sought her forgiveness and fixed the broken louvres. However, she was not satisfied with the repairs.
Her house was weatherproof before the defendant’s attack, but now even after Similai’s repairs, rain was still getting in.
‘Esala asked the magistrate to force Similai to fix the windows properly. Ma'u agreed and ordered Similai to redo them.