A man from Pahu who stabbed his cousin with a knife – which lodged into his buttock – has received a suspended sentence in Nuku’alofa last week.
Fakaʻānaua ʻAlatini had pleaded guilty to one count of recklessly causing injury after he jokingly struck a knife on 23-year-old Viliami Koloamatangi’s butt during an incident on July 5.
The Magistrate Court was told the accused was consuming alcohol with the victim when they heard a disturbance from a party nearby.
Koloamatangi then went to his house and returned with a knife.
A party-goer intervened and tried to take away the knife from him at the same time ʻAlatini came from the back and knocked Koloamatangi to the ground.
ʻAlatini then jokingly struck the knife on Koloamatangi’s buttock but it accidentally injured the victim.
ʻAlatini asked the judge to have mercy on him saying he has 11 children to take care of, the court heard.
Koloamatangi told the judge he has forgiven ʻAlatini and that he has just found out later they were cousins.
Judge Mafi sentenced ʻAlatini to three months imprisonment.
Judge Mafi suspended that sentence upon ʻAlatini entering a two-year good behaviour jail sentence.
